Ravensfan23

why is the defense not loading the box and daring the Eagles to throw the ball. Because of the weather they are one dimensional anyway. You have Suggs flying up field to attack a QB who isn't even gonna throw the ball ore than 5 yards down field anyway. Crowd that area from the LOS to about 5 yards and force them to beat you throwing the ball.

That's true in man coverage but not zone where the defense is already in a reactionary state and the offense is relying on timing to connect.

Slippery field conditions act as a 12th defender for the defense. WRs aren't as quick or as sharp out of their breaks.

I like the shot down field there but if Joe targets Wallace across the middle it might have been a score.

I think the question for him is can he step up and provide at least some of what SSS brings to this offense next year. I think he can from a production stand point

Here we go @BmoreBird22 a more balanced attack on the opening drive. Let's see if it continues.

Send Orr to the Pro Bowl please. This guy is a huge surprise this year

Oh no doubt about that. I think that moment came on the blocked FG. That's when I kind of hung my head like here we go. Was that Joe's fault? No but if Joe could have connects on that TD it settles things down is all im saying.

I like the fact that he's a former QB and I thought that was one of the things that made Kubes and Joe's connection so special. I don't know much about his offense but he's appears to have done a good job with both the Broncos and Chargers, he just doesn't appear to be a good HC.

I disagree. That boneheaded play by Hester didn't help, but but after that the Ravens had a opportunity to take a 7-2 lead and stop that momentum of the Pats before it snow balled but Flacco missed Wallace for what should have been a easy TD. That's directly on Joe. The struggles of the entire offense isn't squarely on his shoulders but as the franchise QB and a guy that we all know is capable of being lights out, you have to make the plays that are there to be made and keep your team in the game.

So what happens when you try to switch things up just because you are playing the Pats and Tucker missing because the usual timing of the Kick isn't there? The Pats just made a play kudos to them. It happens.

I think it's impossible to compare Marty to Trestman. Just listening to Harbs, Trestman was a decision he struggled with since day one, so the offense having poor performances early on really sealed his fate. Also I don't think he was as much about on field production as it was about disconnect between coach and players. Trestman just didn't vibe with the offensive players it seemed. So it was more than just how poor the offense looked. I think under Trestman you could have pinpointed a lot of reasons why things weren't working as well due to injuries and change. I never thought Trestman was a bad OC or the biggest problem until it came out that he just didn't vibe with the players. Now of course there were other issues but I don't think it's something that couldn't have been fixed with time and healthy players. So i don't think that there is many philosophical differences between Marc and Marty, I just think he fits the temperament of the offense better. There are certain things he needs to improve on like running the ball which you've pointed out. But overall I think the offense have improved and whether it's a direct result of him or not, it's improved under him. I think the question is this. Is the offense moving in the right direction enough to where you think just a few tweaks here or there during the offseason can really improve things like the Steelers did. Or do you just strap things and hope to bring in a OC who can make this offense great from day one like Kubes did?

They are unique in that way. I think they are the only team that can really say that. Maybe the Colts back when Peyton and Tom Moore were together, but having high profile guys like that in place for 10+ years is very rare. Other teams pluck the OC from the Ravens after decent offensive seasons lol. But this is what i've been saying for years. The Ravens need to keep certain things and people in place around Flacco to ensure continuity over the years. From 2004 until now, Brady has had the same voices in his head every season except for 3 when Mcdaniels left. That's why I always give the system just as much credit as Brady even though he's great.

This is what I said. As a fan base we know who Flacco is. He's not deadly accurate but he's accurate enough to deliver big time throw in tight windows when he's on. Flacco is a machine gun. He packs a big punch and can do damage all over the field, but you know you're gonna give up some accuracy with that gun. So if precision is the goal, you need to either modify or change that gun. We are not getting rid of Flacco and he's never going to be as accurate as say a Tom Brady. So what's the common ground. It's gonna take work from both Joe and the Ravens imo. Improving your accuracy starts with improving your mechanics and you can improve your mechanics anytime you choose to, it doesn't matter how long you've been playing. I'm not a Tom Brady fan, but I respect greatness and that guy puts in the work to be great. It's just that simple. Now i'm not saying Flacco doesn't work hard to be better but his inconsistent mechanics would suggest that either he doesn't or he needs a better group of trainers. In year 16th Brady still puts great focus on improving his mechanics so he can have better accuracy on his deep ball, so you can improve your mechanics whenever you want to or the people around you say it's mandatory. If Flacco's mechanics doesn't improve where he can become deadly accurate, than the Ravens need to identify players who can create separation early in their routes and allow Flacco to work that way. Right now that's not the case. It's guys who can create slight separation underneath and Joe has to accurately hit them. I went back and watched the New England game like I do every game and what I found was that Flacco just simply left too many plays on the field because he was inaccurate. Completion precentage doesn't determine accuracy. Yes that 71% looked great but checking the ball down 80% of the time will do that. I've been going back and forth with @BmoreBird22 about the need to be balanced and I have to agree with him especially if Flacco will continue to leave so many yards/plays on the field. Because Flacco isn't the most accurate guy, the ability to move defenders with play action will improve the offense greatly and I think that's the point @BmoreBird22 was making. I would have loved to see more rushing attempts in the Pats game, but I can't really fault Marty more than that and I can't really fault the WRs as much, after watching that game it came down to one key factor. The Pats had Tom Brady and the Ravens had Joe Flacco. Brady put his WRs in position to gain YAC and TDs while Flacco just put the ball in the area of his guys and left yards/TDs on the field.

I'm rooting for Camp. Hoping he's past all his injury crap and can show his full potential what ever that may be. There are many different opinions on Camp but he's never been able to stay healthy enough to show people exactly who he is or isn't. Hopefully starting today we'll see why the Ravens were willing to wait on him to get healhty. Sadly that's how poor the return game has been this season. I keep hearing people say the Ravens released the future HOFer Hester and that may be true but he certainly didn't play that way. If Camp can just catch the freaking ball and save yards it'll help. Getting good returns will only be a plus. If the offense is going to continue to work as an underneath offense and refuse to attack down field than a guy like Camp is needed. The way this offense is being run, we need a guy who can get open quick inside to present a quick chain moving option. Other than maybe SSS the Ravens really don't have that guy, so I'd like to see Camp used on offense as well. Especially if Marty won't attack downfield more.

Of course I missed it. What did she say?

It's not about keeping guys around, it's about finding a system to keep around. If you look at the defensive side of the ball, it doesn't matter who is brought in, they are going to run the same type of hyrid defense. It doesn't matter if it's a Pagano/Rex who are more 3-4 guys or Mattison/Pees who are more 4-3 guys, the system doesn't change it's the philosophy and scheme that changes. Pees is more bend but don't break while Pagano was more attack. That's all i'm saying about the offense. If you are going to consistently change the system, you better make a better effort to keep the players constant because the more comfortable guys are together the quicker it is to learn a new offense. The difference between teams like NYG and ATL opposed to the Ravens was that when they changed systems, Eli and Matt already had a great connection with their WRs. So half the battle is won, they just have to focus on getting on the same page within that offense. Flacco on the other hand has to learn his guys and on top of that learn the system each year. So it's not about keeping players imo. That definitely helps, but it's more important to have consistency in the system. If you are going to chance the OC again, at the very least keep the WCO offense in play and allow Flacco to master it so the other pieces around him will just fall in place.

I'm not disagreeing with you. The Pats were definitely more committed to the run. My point is they had more success with the run early on. My entire point that start this was your statement that said Marty abandons the run even when it's proven to be successful and I just don't see that to be true. Is he committed to establishing the run? Not at all, I think he'd love to use it as a complimentary piece and as effective as it is, I still believe that is exactly how the Pats use it. All i'm saying is you can't compare a offense that has been running for 10+ years and are so comfortable with each other to one running for 9 weeks. When we played them in 2014 they ran the ball a total of 8 times i think. That's just a offense that can beat you in many different ways and everyone would love to do that but that takes time to build. Does Marty have flaws, yes. Would I like to see the run game get going more, yes especially with a guy like Dixon who I feel has Ray Rice potential. But that has to be built. I would love to see the Ravens be able to run the ball successfully and I actually think there were more opportunities to run the ball Monday but execution is a huge part of it. As you said Dixon had to fight for every single yard, he didn't have much running room because the Pats were winning at the LOS. But again, I agree you certainly need to run the ball more than 2 times in the first half. I understood the need to use the short pass as an extension of the run game but the only way the Ravens were gonna get consistent space vs the Pats was move those LBs and Safeties with play action. I guess my stance is, I'd rather see this offense go through it's growing pains of building that same type of chemistry as a unit that teams like the Pats, Steelers and Packers have, than to change things again in hopes that you'll get the perfect guy. A lot of what the Pats do in the run game is a result of Brady checking into runs when he sees favorable fronts and everyone being on the same page. This offense will never get there if you change things up every year. Kubiak was the exception of the run and even he hasn't done the greatest job in Denver.

I knew what you were talking about when we first started. But again, this is what this game dictated for them. As I mentioned before they are in a position to run the ball in the 4th quarter more than the Ravens. The Pats had 23 rushes(non QB or WR) in this game and 5 came on the final drive to close out the game. That that means they ran the ball a total of 19 times while operating in their normal offense. Brady had 38 passes to 19 runs. Meanwhile the Ravens ran the ball 13 times, but down by 10 with only 6 minutes left, they went to a 2min offense and Flacco tacked on 9 more passes. So if you take away those 9 passes in the 2min catchup offense, that puts Flacco's attempts at 43. So the Pats pass:run ratio was 38:19 and the Ravens were 43:13 can you see what I was talking about saying the Ravens aren't running the ball much less then them? So what was the difference, imo it came because the Pats were averaging 4.3ypc while the Ravens were at 3.5ypc and couldn't get out of their own way with penalties. The Pats just had more success and that allowed them to continue using it to stay on the field with 1st downs and getting chucks off playaction. The Ravens didn't have that luxury. The Ravens just aren't a good rushing team right now and it's not because for lack of attempts imo. But I do agree with you that being able to have full use of both run and pass can make this offense nearly unstoppable, they just have to get to that point.

So Brady throws a tantrum on the sidelines and it's his competitive spirit. Cam Newton does the same thing and he's immature. umm ok.

If that doesn't get Hester benched I don't know what will.

Is that Keenan Reynolds or Devin Hester back there fielding punts? He looks like a scared, indecisive rookie.

this is why the Ravens lost so many close games last year

This is why I can't stand the Ravens Kickoff crew. If you are gonna hype guys up, at least be accurate. Both Jackson and Starks just said Dion Lewis is the 3rd leading pass catcher for the Pats this year. The guy has a total of 11 catches for 71 yards and 0TDs. What a joke. Now I will say that Lewis can be dangerous out of the backfield and he's only been healthy for the last 3 games. Maybe they meant James White who has 47 catches

Tonight will be a bit of a role reversal. The Ravens will have a uptempo,, no huddle attacking style offense all night. While the Pats will look to play more of a ball controlled offense and take what the Ravens give them. Look for the Pats to have more 3 and outs than you usually see, the key will be the Ravens offense taking advantage of it with TDs. I love the guy but this isn't a Tucker game, we only need him at the end of the half and end of game. Maybe 1 other 40+ FG.