OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL

So I have given this some thought. 

Why would the team want to shut down the fans opinions of the team, whether it be players, procedures, philosophy, or coaches, or draft picks?

- It annoys them if the comments are negative.

- It costs money to maintain

- Someone (player, coach, or front office) got their feelings hurt from a fan comment (s)

- They just want YES MEN around them to agree with everything they say and do from the top down

- They could care less what fans think

- People use too much profanity

- They realize the fans might actually be knowledgeable enough to see a failing plan versus a successful plan, and do not want to hear about it

- Too many Squeeler trolls pretending to be Ravens fans

- Bill Belicheck has hacked into our team computers through the message boards

Feel free to finish this list.....

What team has drafted the most pro bowlers since 08 the start of the Harbaugh era? Any stat gurus out there?

We never trade a 1st rd pick for a proven commodity

We sign Woodhead, Pats sign Cooks. Priorities fellas

No McDaniel training camp, No forums, No Playoffs, No playmakers, No Problem. Get a beer and suck it up!

The Sun reporting B Will is gone??? WTH, Will we ever be able to sign our own home grown Ravens anymore? Or will the endless cap hell prwvent tgat from ever happening? https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-expected-to-lose-brandon-williams

Britt would look nice in Purple

Right player, right price - bring back Torrey.

He has old chemistry with Joe, they practically grew up together. See how bad Torrey wants it, he is still young. Look at him as a Derek Mason with speed, thats an original Raven. Hes gotta want it though, and that means taking Ozzies price. 

Gotta go with what you got

19 hours ago, Somerset Ravens said:

Hopefully Correa will find his way onto the field next season. He seems to have the physical skills even though he could gain some strength. His problem appears to be the lack of a good football IQ. He takes himself out of position to make the play.

I think you hit on something here.

We were very fortunate to have Ray and Ed all those years with the highest football IQ's of any defensive players ever.

It did not happen overnight, but from endless film study of opposing QB's and offensive tendencies, putting themselves in correct position to make plays.

Lets face it, the great players get back from the game, what they put into it, and truly reap the rewards, accolades, and championships that go with the hard work off the field. 

Lets hope Correa takes his job seriously, and can make the mental aspect of his game rival the physicality of his game, and good things will be certain to come.

Is not having a clearly defined role for Correa holding him back? Ok in LB duties, but a master at nothing?

Does this fall on the coaching staff, to equip him with clear direction at a future starting role on this team?

What exactly did we draft him so highly to do?

Does his development fall on Pees now? Otherwise, why even draft him so high? 

Again, getting back to Pees, master of the defensive scheme, others banged on us for lack of playmakers, lack of speed and explosiveness on defense, yet here we have a guy with those attributes, and he barely sees the field? 

On 1/23/2017 at 0:37 AM, PurpleCity5 said:

We play plenty of man coverage, I don't think the issue is completely the simply with our zone coverage, there were times where we played man coverage and got burnt. 

Pees sends A-Gap pressure at times and when guys don't hit home, the secondary gets slaughtered. Jimmy Smith being out also had a huge impact because now you're forced to send Weddle/Webb back in single-high safety coverage and shift Orr/Mosley to more coverage packages. With Jimmy healthy, we've actually been better at zone coverage than man coverage because of how we are able to play our LBs from sideline to sideline and diagnose plays. 

One criticism that I hear about Pees is that he needs to be more creative with the pressure he schemes up and I agree with that to a point. I think the game against the Bills was his best as a play caller because he clicked on all cylinders whether it was coverage or pressure schemes. He was creative with his pressure against Buffalo, Jets, Steelers(@Home), and Dolphins by sending disguising pressure through sending defensive backs on blitz schemes which surprises plenty of teams we played. He also confused plenty of teams constantly by adding stunts and twists. He needs to consistently confuse teams protection schemes. 

I think the zone is very ideal for us. Webb and Weddle are good tacklers in the backfield, as is Mosley. The team played with plenty of discipline this year, early in the season with Jimmy healthy we put out a top 5 secondary and I honestly have to say that we didn't get much out of our #2 and #4 CBs with Jimmy and Young being the only guys who can play at CB. 

The zone has not been ideal for us in the 4th quarter, it has prevented wins. You cant fix a problem, if you are in denial that you have one. 

Even with Jimmy back there, we have faltered in the 4th quarter, vs NE, the zone has not been able to stop Brady, and an even bigger problem has been not being able to stop AJ Green, just to be able to get a crack at Brady down the road. 

Imho, keeping the same philosophy, and scheme will be keeping the same results, I really hate that Leslie Frazier is not our DC right now, he would have helped us bigtime, now we will have to wait and see if doing the same thing with the same people, will net us different results. 

Not sure, but heres what we Do Know:

Our 2 best players, stars, are our Kicker, and our Guard, those should be your 2 best selling jerseys right? (cue drop the mic)

Seriously? Snapping to Andy Dalton?

Phil Simms just said, "The Patriots Offense is designed to pick apart Zone Defenses". 

That, along with the fact that NE has been in the Afc Championship game the last 6 years, means if we ever get out of our own way and are lucky enough to get there again, it will most likely be vs the Pats.

Kniwing that to be true, WHAT ARE WE DOING ON DEFENSE TO IMPROVE? Same DC, same Scheme, and More ZONE? 

Knowing Coach Harbs is not upgrading his defensive Coaching staff, Will the Ravens be Better next season, or Worse? 

On 1/8/2017 at 1:37 PM, SuperBowl84 said:

They always say does prevent defense only prevent you from winning, haha.

After watching these playoff games, the better receivers just torch these zone defenses. Its a wonder why a lot of defenses keep doing it. You would think if you HAVE to play zone, there might be some alternate version you could try to get one of your 5 defenders 10 feet away from the open receiver to slam some kind of tighter coverage or something, these better receivers just sit in the soft spots constantly and wreak havoc, just looks too easy to beat.

Looks like with  Orr done, a spot has opened up for him. Or if we plug McClellan there, and if Doom is gone, a spot is there too....the question is, what is Correa doing this offseason to better himself, and get on the field? 

Have our coaches issued challenges to each player, giving them a list of things to work on in the offseason? Because my daughters soccer coaches even do that, hopefully our coaches have.

If Ozzie was smart, 

He would be going to more College games than just Alabama, and actually watch his 1-3 round potential picks play in person, then rely on tape or scouts opinions.

1 hour ago, January J said:

Agreed. Focus on 1 or the other- and right now pass rush is what we need desperately.

Yes. And he was touted as a high motor guy, 2nd round pick for cripes sakes, isnt this what our coaches should be doing, developing guys with raw athleticism and speed, and teaching them how to get to the Qb? So if I was Correa, I would be training this offseason with the best retired pass rusher I could find. It can only help the team, and his pocketbook down the road.

12 hours ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Depends on what role you actually think Correa is going to play for this team. By all accounts, he spend a lot of time at MLB, so setting the edge and pass rushing wouldn't be as important to him as a MLB.

 

I see him as a hybrid, like AD was. Hes not taking CJ's or Orrs spot, and our pass rush needs to improve. If I was him, I would be trying to win Dooms spot

18 hours ago, RaineV1 said:

 

Here's a solid opinion piece on Pees leaving New England that brings up some of the stats: http://www.patspulpit.com/2010/1/14/1251972/time-for-a-house-cleaning-patriots

They were 11th in total defense. However they had the habit of not closing games, and collapsing against important opponents. Against Indy the Pats had a 31-14 lead in the 4th quarter, and the Colts came back to win that. This sounds exactly like what's been happening with the Ravens. Good stat line for the defense, but not showing up when its needed most.

It's kind of funny seeing the comments on that post, like one person saying it looked good at times but the defense just lacked the intensity it to used to have.

Wow, Pees history does repeat itself with blown 4th quarter leads. He loves that prevent zone with a lead, only to give it back easily and ultimately the game. How can you keep doing the same thing, and expect different results? 

I was super pissed to see Leslie Frazier go, thought he would be the logical replacement, but I guess Harbs will go down with these 4th quarter failures.

Coach HARBAUGH, Did you notice what Coach Belichek did right there? HE TOOK THE POINTS, and Kicked the FG! 

He didnt try and get cute with a fake Fg, or another run on 4th and goal,  HE TOOK THE POINTS, note that please

Wilson needs an Oline for sure

Its offseason, and we comment and speculate, and complain, but to do something different and fun,  I have dubbed this thread, The Player Game. 

The way it works, is name your Player, if this player was smart, he would ________and fill in the blank, as to what he should do in the Off Season to get better. 

So I will give you an example.

If Correa was smart, he would work on his pass rushing skills or work on setting the edge better  this off season to get better, and get on the field more.

Have fun with it, maybe it will shed some light on stuff we are seeing.