ravenstime

I think we're running the ball just fine. Look at the game last week. We needed to pass on the last few drives (last one especially) and we still mixed in runs, and some that went very well. I'm pretty sure that if we pass well, we're going to win. That will back defenders out of the box and the running game will be there. If we don't pass well, then we're in trouble, because you cannot win a game as easily with your running game. I think we need to take more shots 15 or more yards downfield, regularly. Flacco has got a good arm and in today's game, you have to put the game on your quarterbacks' shoulders. He's a franchise QB, if you don't want to say more than that (elite?), so let him play!

I know we're trying to make 1st downs and trying to be better on 3rd down, specifically. However, most of the good teams (Pats / Bengals for example) try to avoid 3rd down altogether. It seems to me, that we try to run for a few and pass for a few and then convert the 3rd down and 3 or whatever. Now, last week, one thing that helped us out (and it was out of necessity) we started throwing the ball further downfield. We had a bunch of deep (15 yards or more) throws. Some were early and some were at the end of the game, but if you want to score 30 points and move the football consistently, you need to throw the ball downfield. You're going to live and die with your QB and in order to keep up with the great teams and most of the average teams, you need to do that or you will lose a lot of games with a lot of punts. Make it happen, Joe and Marc!

This article is saying that we should win a lot of games because some of the teams we're playing are teams with losing records. Well, guess what?? We have a losing record and a bad one at that. Also we have a bunch of home games coming up. I honestly believe that is a plus, but we've also lost a few home games this year, anyway. I'm just not sold on us going 4 - 4 the rest of the way, never mind 8 - 0. We're so depleted with WR's and Defensive Backs that it really is not likely, just a pipe dream, basically. But, it makes for good news on a slow day, I suppose. We'll get a top 10 pick, so that will be in our favor.

The first few draft picks are usually for teams that need a QB, anyways. There's plenty of teams that think that way, still. If we're in the top 8 or so, I'd be confident that our team or draft experts will find the WR or the Cornerback or Saftey that we need. Either way, I think we'll get a good pick or two in the first few rounds. Hopefully those higher picks will be playing come next September, unlike this year's 1st round pick. Get well Perriman (I don't think he'll play at all this year).

I don't think we can do much worse, if we sign him to a modest contract. I mean, he'll fit right in with the lack of talent we have already here. At least we would gain some speed and maybe a splash play or two on returns. I am not very optimistic about re-signing him, but even if he's still downward-trending, he wouldn't be much worse than what we've got as our 4th or 5th receivers / returners. Sign him!

I have to say, I thought we were going to lose, much like last year (Chargers game), when they had their last drive, with a chance to take the lead. They did the same thing to us last year and won with a TD. This had deja vu written all over it. However, of course, I was beyond ecstatic, holding them to a FG, to tie. I had all the confidence in Flacco (with about 2 minutes left) to get it done. It really was a matter of time. It seems like whoever had the ball last with some time to work with, was going to win, and luckily for us, we got the stop to hold them to 3 points and had enough time, exactly enough, to get Tucker to do his thing. Great victory and everyone here, should be proud of the effort, the total team effort!

Thanks, for straightening out that (about Flacco). I always liked Joe and it's good to get some reassurance. Thanks!

I totally agree, we need to draft a couple of WR's, early in the draft. We need to give Joe potential while he's in his prime. Unless we can trade for a Vet, then I'd draft 2 in the 1st 4 rounds. I know we also have to give our defensive secondary some attention as well in next years draft. These guys caught most of Joe's passes and Smith was effective as well. We'll miss him for sure, it's going to effect us somewhat, but now Joe will have to hit the open man and not over-look at Smith.

Thanks, Gary Davenport, but 'The Ravens Get A Break!?!?' I don't know, it seems like this 'Bad Joke' will never end! He must not have watched our games, this year, because this team and 'Getting A Break' are not usable in the same sentence, I don't think so. We're snake-bitten, for sure.

And paying VETERANS well enough to keep talent somewhere on this team, instead of trading everyone that gets paid to go somewhere else. We don't have enough time to mention all of the guys that we let go and didn't pay. I know about the Salary Cap and how we've had a lot of dead or wasted money going for a while, but we need to get right with that and at the same time, pay some veterans that have the talent, instead of watching them make plays against us or our division opponents and saying, 'Boy, I wish he was still a Raven!'

Well, suit 'em up and let's get this one! I know we can win, but we need to get after Rivers and get an INT or fumble or two to win, plus not making stupid penalties! As long as we can field a team, I'm going to be happy and route for a win.

Two things, yes, Asa is good and bad, hot and cold. He makes plays happen, but they're not always beneficial to us. He's the kind of guy that both teams like, somewhat. And the receivers, let's not assume they're always at fault. Flacco is not having his best year. I still love Joe and hope he turns a corner here (no pun intended). He's missed a few guys and sailed a few passes, but I'm giving him time to gel with these guys, and I think he will. Will it be in time for 5 wins??? Probably not.

Count me in on this, we do play a soft, PREVENT-Style defense right out of the gate and usually until the 4th quarter, when we cannot give up any yards. And, usually as soon as we play up on the WR's, then they go to the deep ball, like to Torrey and like in Oakland and Cincy, as well. I like Dean Pees enough and want him to succeed, but we might be too far past it now. It's not always our personnel's fault. Sooner or later, they're going to have an article on here, about Dean Pees Soft, Cover (no one) defense.

From what I've gathered about our team, we need WR's and Defensive Secondary help. I mean, with our luck at drafting or keeping Receivers, we'd have to draft about 6 of them to get 1 that works out! So, that being said, I'd pick 6 WR's and a couple of Defensive Backs. How's that, luck!

The big guy almost had an NFL catch. Maybe we'll use him again on offense. Either way, he's definitely a good blocker and fills in for our o-line admirably.

I always liked JJ and hope he doesn't have any bad feelings about Baltimore, it's team or it's fans. I wish we still had him, but it looks like we made the right move, monetarily speaking.

I agree, a lot of our plays seem basic, compared with the likes of Pitt., and Arizona, and even Cleveland. We are ULTRA-Conservative when it comes to passing. We'll have the 4 and 5 yard completions but aren't hitting on 15 yards and deeper or trying them as often as I hope we would. Most teams like to avoid 3rd downs as much as possible. We seem to want to use every down we can get before moving the chains, including a few penalties along the way. I'm pretty sure Flacco is having an off year and the fans here are making sure that everyone thinks about it too. Several times this year, Flacco has air-mailed a few passes, some are INT's and some are not, but the post office would like to get a hold of him, as he's so good at it when it's not really a good thing for a QB to be associated with. I don't know if he's hoping he's lucky or what but he needs to hit our guys without lobbing so much. No?

Yeah, I know, but even though all our games (including losses) were close games at the end, that doesn't tell the whole story. We're getting marched up and down the field with a lot of these offenses, such as Cleveland and Oakland and the other day, Arizona. Most of our opponents have looked sharper and crisper on their routes and different plays called than we have. I honestly don't know how we were within one score at the end of all our games. Seems to me, we should have lost a few games by more. Maybe these teams are going into some type of prevent-mode. If so, they shouldn't do that. I think you can throw on our defense in the final 10 minutes as easily as you can in the 1st 50 minutes and I would do it, too. I wouldn't be satisfied with hoping we botch another last minute drive. That's how you get upset. That is, if it's even possible for the Ravens to upset a decent team (no offense Pitt., that game was handed to us).

I agree with you, reed20fence, we should have nailed Johnson while Williams was holding him. You have to play to the whistle, we've all heard it said before.

O.k., the refs blew at least 2 calls. However, if Joe was thinking a little clearer, he might have thrown that ball into the 2nd row, instead of a 50 / 50 ball. I know that Crockett is a tall receiver and that was a good play, but we had 1 or 2 more chances to make a better throw. I wish he'd have air-mailed that one out of the end zone. I am happy though that we threw the ball into the end zone and not short, again. Whenever we're near the 5 yard line, it really makes little sense to throw it short of the Goal, especially when the clock is running out. That play before, when there was the penalty, only gained 1 or 2 yards, and those plays should go in the end zone; I can almost hear Madden yelling that from the booth, years ago!

What else could happen but a close loss. It seems to be our way of playing. Keep it close until the final 2 minutes, where we need a TD or get one and then AZ. goes all the way down the field for the winning TD. I see it as a four point game close until the end. With our luck, we'll prob. be on the losing end, something that's familiar with us this year, something like a 30 - 26 game, where an extra FG instead of a TD drive costs us the game. What's new??

Ray Lewis has a lot of heart. Maybe he's spreading the word (religiously) by encouraging folks, but he is on to something and a lot of these younger guys need to spend their lives going in the right direction and I think they get that from guys like Ray Ray. I don't think he's misleading anyone, if you're not sure. GO RAVENS! Let it be a good ending to our year to build on for next year!

The only way we're reaching .500 is if our awful secondary, that gives up chunk plays like they're going out of style, makes a drastic turnaround. Frankly, I don't think we have the talent there. And the receiving corps. is lacking a few playmakers, as well. Without any injuries, it's a different story, slightly, but still, we need to sign some talent if we want to win NOW. Building through the draft isn't working out so well for us, with the injuries and bad play of some high picks, including Elam and Asa. Besides, if we try to build from the draft, we're going to lose players to other teams, because we're not as willing to pay to keep the talent, such as Torrey, Anquon, Ellerbe, Jarett Johnson, Paul Kruger, etc. We should begin to have more salary cap room to keep some grizzled veterans around with the Ray Rice contract and so on being over soon. We NEED to pay some Veterans to have a good team, period.

Very complimentary of Az. And to say we've given up a few 'Chunk' plays is a bit of an understatement. How about something like, 'If you can throw it 25 or 30 yards downfield all game long, you're going to score a lot of points off the Ravens and probably (based on previous results) have career best numbers at the end of it.' That's more like it.

I'd like to see us avoid so many 3rd downs! And long, too!