77rus

Looks like we the fans aren't the only ones that would like Kubiak back, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala:

If Gary Kubiak is "stepping down" and not "retiring," could he return to Baltimore as an OC? Member of Ravens says to me: I hope!

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he played great press coverage on that flag  that got thrown at the end of the game.

heck he played 10 yards off on boldin and got burned for 51 yards

 

he tried both and these are the results in this game alone.

both pretty huge plays.

 

so what more do you suggest he should try ?

You are pointing out separate instances. It would be interesting to see the percentage of plays Jimmy plays press and off.

If the percentage of plays was about 50-50 and he was getting beat on them equally, then you have a point. 

Pretty much.  We have one pure pass rusher on the team and it's easy to chip him at that point.  We have only been getting sacks by blitzing.

 

If Pees doesn't blitz, fans call him out for it

If Pees sends a blitz and puts faith in a CB who gets burned, fans call him out for it

If Pees calls zone, fans call him out for it

If Pees calls man and the CB gets beat, fans call him out for it.

 

It's almost comical.  Jimmy Smith is being beat left and right.  A rookie made him look horrible on the first drive of his second game.  I think the secondary coach is a bigger problem than Pees right now.  All Pees is doing is exactly what fans want and then fans complain about that.

I don't remember anyone blaming Pees for Jimmy's mistake. The issue is, as I see it, is Pees not giving Jimmy a second chance to correct his mistakes, and going right back to playing way off, which time and again has been proven doesn't work

Sounds like a dangerous game that many of them don't have the luxury to play. I doubt some of the guys on this defense, particularly the depth guys who annually have to compete for just a simple roster spot and minimum salary in this league, can afford to not play up to the level they can because they don't like the scheme or the assignment they've been given.

 

In theory, they COULD think that way, but its a recipe for a career-ending backfire. Other coaches and scouts around the league generally aren't fond of people who are perceived to give less than optimal effort, particularly when they can't hide that with their overwhelming skill sets.

 

If fans can perceive this, rest assured coaches can. And when coaches think this, you generally end up on the bench or cut. And when other coaches are looking to bring you in, they seek the opinion of other coaches, particularly the one you just played for.

In theory, you might be thinking that you are giving it your all. In reality, when you don't agree with something, even subconsciously, the result is quite different

Sure, but there's no evidence that's not the case on this team. I have no doubt these players care about each other.

The question is not whether they care about each other. I believe they do. The question is whether they care about Pees and his scheme (and whether they care to execute it)...

Correct its not. Sometimes its player motivation. But then again, I'm one of the few who thinks that if players need a coach or even a Ray Lewis to get them motivated to play the best they can, then they probably aren't worthy to play in this league to begin with.

 

Can't really blame the whole thing on a lack of Lewis leadership either, since the collapse of this defense began long before he or Reed retired...

Not even talking about motivation.  Have you ever noticed when you care about a person, you just do more, go the extra mile, probably not even consciously?

Exactly the response I was hoping for...

 

In totality, my point was people are actually blaming the new DC of the Seahawks for their failures, yet they can't actually explain what he's done differently? If you're going to draw a conclusion like that, you better be able to support it by something other than "they are losing more games and the personnel is the same". I've watched most of Seattle's games, and I see no difference in the scheme, design, or assignments any of the players are being asked to do. So how then could I blame him for something that I can't even see what impact he has on to begin with? Just because the names on the back of the jerseys of the personnel on the field haven't changed doesn't mean that they aren't to blame, because they very much are. You can directly look at many of the late TDs given up by the Seahawks this season and point, with mountains of evidence, to missed assignments and poor technique/execution from the players.

 

In short, that's a lazy approach, and in many cases, its just flat wrong.

 

Here's a radical concept... sometimes players just don't play to the level they are capable of AND actually do make mistakes. 

 

As it were... if we are going to NOW, conveniently, say that good assistant coaches don't necessarily make good DCs, then why is this fanbase convinced that Clarence Brooks is a viable solution, when he certainly falls into that class?

Can you explain Ray Lewis impact? Sometimes it's not 100% the scheme. There are other factors at play, also.

The fanbase wants a change from the stale situation that the D is in. Brooks is only an option that people are pointing to, because the players respect him and are excited to play for him (remember B. Williams's reaction when Brooks got the game ball?!) He might not be the savior, but it seems pretty obvious that something's got to change....

What makes you think their DC is bad? Or are you just drawing that conclusion because they've been struggling (despite their personnel being different)?

 

Keep in mind... their new DC is the guy who was the position coach for the most prolific unit of their defense for the last several years (secondary coach). I guess he all of the sudden is a bad coach huh?

 

Nice try... your theory doesn't pass the smell test.

Dean Pees was a position coach on the Ravens too...so your point?

A good position coach can make a bad coordinator, same as a good coordinator can make a bad head coach...apples and oranges

Go

I think most of the Ravens themed pool pics showed up just last year, maybe the year before. most were photo shopped.

iirc, most were in the playoffs threads during our SB year.

We've experimented with Arrington at safety and if Melvin looks good and plays well I certainly wouldn't be surprised if we use Arrington as a hybrid defensive back with Melvin and Smith outside and Webb in the slot. We rotate safeties a lot so it's not like we couldn't use another guy in the rotation.

And lol at the Melvin comparison to Jimmy.

Right, either Melvin is a top 5 CB in the making or he will never amount to anything because he had one bad game. Quite a bit of range there

I think it's wrong to put any type of a label on Melvin after that one game. It seems that expectations of him were a bit too high or unrealistic, considering he went undrafted.

Also, it's not the comparison, it's the contrast to Jimmy that should be obvious. Nobody can expect an undrafted player to start in his, what, second or third game and perform as a star.

Webb is struggling with injury...again.

 

Let's see Toast truly defend a pass before we anoint him. That means locating the ball. Job #1 for a pass defender.  Unlike some, at least he can tackle. He's got special teams locked up.

To be fair, it took Jimmy a while to fix the same problem, and he was a first round pick. Give Melvin a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Raised in Harford County, MD. Lived in California and England. Recently moved to Moscow, Russia. Would be great to find other Ravens fans out here. <3 my

I can't believe Hostler is a finalist. What a joke.

For a moment there when I read your post I thought Harbs chose Hostler..Then I read it again..Phew..lol

I understand your position.

 

My allegiance is not absolute, but neither are my criticisms.  The F.O. can win me back by managing to get this team to the playoffs.

 

There's plenty of fans in Cleveland, Detroit and Jacksonville that never question.

 

We had a very good team and key pieces were tossed away and questionable pieces were added.

I would never agree to blind devotion...that's the truest way to lose yourself.  

However, you can't judge without being privy to everything that is going on with the team. And I'm sure that aforementioned team fans do question. Still there have to be some trust considering the results the team has accomplished the last 5 years.

I get the expectations, and the frustration with not getting the results we all wish, but as I mentioned before, banging our collective heads against the wall is still not going to bring around the results we wish for...Have faith!

Dumervil > Kruger

Webb healthy > Cary

Monroe > McKinnie

 

Two of those key pieces were Ray and Birk, who retired.  No one else who we let go is making us look bad right now.  Our secondary isn't missing Pollards penalties or Eds missed tackles.  Marlon already has more TDs than Boldin did all of last year in the regular season.  

 

This is one of the best FOs in the league, period, end of story.  That holds true even if we do miss the playoffs this year.  We'll be back long term.

Let me play a devil's advocate here...not to say I completely

disagree.

Dumervil might be a wash with Kruger, as he disappears during games. And he just might be getting by his reputation.

Yes, Webb is way better then Cary, but we had Webb until he got hurt in Cowboys game...Corey substituted for Webb..so its Corey for Cary..and I honestly can't say one is better then another.

No argument from me on Monroe vs. McKinnie, although from the struggles we are seeing from the Oline, McKinnie wasn't the main problem.

Ray and Birk, again, no argument there. But you could say that Pollard's and Ed's playmaking made up for the penalties and missed tackles. They complemented each other. There is always the fear factor.

And finally Marlon and Q. Yes, Marlon has more TDs and I absolutely love his potential, but he doesn't have Q's instincts and abilities yet. Marlon has more TDs, but compare their 3rd down conversions...Plus with Q on the field, the same time last year, Torrey had more TDs if I'm not mistaken.

We do have an amazing FO that puts us in a position to win more games then not. But nobody is perfect. The only way anyone can judge the offseason moves is at the end of the year. 

I have no doubt that we will be right back in the mix of things, but was this season worth sacrificing everything that we have so far just for the sake of the future...

Wait a minute...the whole "Cleats is playing poorly because he's out of position argument" is solved by Reed's return correct?

 

Maybe that is the catalyst to bring the playoffs back.

 

Either that or CLANK....CLANK....CLANK.

 

the sound of leather bouncing off hands

I have to say that I'm one of those fans who prefers to read the opinions. I don't usually write them.

You do have many negative posts, and while a lot of people disagree with them, I do believe your opinions have some validity to them. Elam is playing out of position, and he probably wasn't FO's first choice at safety. Others were better, but were gone by the time we had to pick.The point is, that your view of things is very much is black and white, and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but life is most of the time is along of the shades of grey. I personally wish Q was still here. I want Reed back, and though I don't think he would play any better than "Cleats" there are many positives to have him on the squad. Still, bashing the FO and coaches...they aren't going to listen or pay attention.

I do believe that bringing Ed back might have a similar effect as firing Cam and getting Ray back had last year. But I also understand that it might backfire. All we can do is trust FO and support our team. Everything else is banging our head against the wall...