TheConquerorWorm

PFF numbers are a joke. Anyone that knows football, knows that it was Will Hill that gave up the wide open touchdown to Floyd. The corner "handed off" the WR to Hill, who was out of position and late in the coverage (the commentator even mentioned this). Yet, PFF gives a negative grade to the CB and a positive grade to Hill. Same thing with Torrey's touchdown, that's Will Hill's missed assignment not the CB. And PFF does not account for zone coverage. If I'm responsible for covering the RB coming out of the backfield but the tight end catches a pass in the soft spot right out of my zone, PFF records that as a negative for me because I'm the closest player even though the safety was supposed to come up on the TE. But Mosley does look a bit out of sorts. I think its a combination of the sophomore slump and him not being 100% healthy.

Actually, neither time was Asa offsides. The Center on the Chargers would rotate the ball before snapping. He's allowed to do that BEFORE he gets set, but in this case, the Chargers center would get set, then spin the ball before hiking. As soon as he started to spin the ball, technically the play begins - doesn't matter if he actually hikes the ball or not. Most centers will rotate the ball once they grab hold of it before getting set. Bad technique by the Center, good for Asa for recognizing it.

I think they love Daryl Smith trying to cover a TE or RB or bracket coverage by Arrington & Will Smith even better. Both Smiths are a huge liability in coverage (see Torrey & Floyd touchdowns). I would like to see the Ravens move Will Smith to ILB instead of Daryl Smith - the same way the Cards use Bucannon & Honey Badger or the Bucs use Mark Barron. The NFL is a passing league and the hybrid LB/S is the next evolution of the 3-4 defense and the big nickel package.

Everyone knows that. But when other teams load the box with 8 or 9 guys (like the Chargers did all game long), running the ball in that instance is foolish. Normally, when the other team loads the box, leaving the WRs 1 on 1, you can take advantage of that. Since Aiken, Givens, Ross or Brown can't really get open against quality DBs, you see exactly why the Ravens can't score TDs or take advantage of that situation. Givens is good on the 9 route but that's about it (pretty easy to defend when you know it's coming). Why do think there are so many passes to TE & Juice? It's because those are the only guys that can get open (in reality, just finding soft spots in the zone). SSS was the only guy that could get open against a quality DB. Even still, your best bet against a loaded box is to try to pass the ball. If I was a DC facing the Ravens, I would load the box to stop the run game making the Ravens throw the ball. Rush 5-6 of those 8 guys and make the WRs try to get open in the 3 seconds Flacco has to get rid of the ball. That's what Arizona did perfectly.

There are some young talented WR buried on teams' depth charts the Ravens should be looking to get. Guys like: Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN (also solves the PR/KR issue because Fumble Ross isn't cutting it) Justin Hunter, TEN Cody Latimer, DEN Paul Richardson, SEA Marqise Lee, JAX Rueben Randle, NYG Sure these guys have some warts but they also have undeveloped talent, are an upgrade over some existing WR and can be had for a low end draft pick. Much better gambles than a 5th or 6th round pick next year.

You forgot to mention that the Cardinals have only been to the play-offs once since 2010 (losing in 1st Round), are paying Peterson $15 million per year and have both safeties about to be free agents. Oh, and 1st Round picks Jonathan Cooper, DJ Humphries & Dan Williams have all been busts. Same goes for 2nd Round picks Troy Nicklas, Ryan Williams, Jamell Fleming, & Kevin Minter. Every team misses on top picks, the Ravens have a better record than most.

So maybe Givens & Ross can't get the playbook down. If they don't know the plays, they won't be on the field. And if they aren't better in practice than Brown or Aiken, then they won't play either. But why don't you let us know when you are at practice tomorrow if they know all the plays...oh wait...you AREN'T. Harbaugh has developed plenty of players - Ray Rice (heard of him?), Pernell McPhee, Dennis Pitta, Justin Forsett, Crocket Gillmorre, Torrey Smith, Paul Kruger, Art Jones, John Urschel, etc - All those guys were not highly rated going into the draft. But I guess they don't quite fit YOUR AGENDA. Run for cover and point fingers is NOT what Ravens Nation is about.

Coaches that call their own plays: Arians, Jay Gruden, Bill O Brien, Ken Wisenhunt, Andy Reid Coaches that don't call their own plays: Harbaugh, Belichick, Pete Carroll, Mike MCarthy, Mike Tomlin. I'll let you do the math on which coaches are more successful.....(hint: think play-offs and SB)

David Reed 2.0

Pitta retiring would only free up 600K in salary cap space so unfortunately we're stuck with that contract for another year.

Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Mississippi or Laremy Tunsil, OT, Mississippi. Nkemdiche is stud in the Suh mold. Tunsil locks up the LT spot for the next 10 years. Personally, I think Bosa is a little overrated and he's more of a 4-3 DE - not a good fit in Baltimore. But would love to see the Ravens trade back a few spots and get CB Jalen Ramsey. However, I think the Ravens are a better team than some of the other bottom feeders so I highly doubt that we get the #1 overall.

That wasn't bad play-calling that was bad execution. Most of the time that happens because players don't hear the call from the QB and not because the coaches don't get the play in. In fact the speakers in the QB helmet are cut off with 15 seconds on the play clock. That tells me the play was in, either the players didn't hear the call or didn't know where to line-up (the more likely with all the shuffling of new guys in the starting line-up). Blaming the play calling is worse than blaming the refs (especially when you have no actual clue what play was actually called). Bottom line, this is just not a very good football team right now.

Can you share what the play calls were? All I saw was no time for ANY play to develop because the Cards were coming free almost every play. Looked to me like Flacco had to throw the ball up not to take a sack - like 8 plays in a row. I'm pretty sure that "drop back, let all pass rushers come free and throw the ball up to not take a sack" is not a play call that Trestman put in.

You mean last minute 4th down "hail mary" INTs with AT LEAST 2 defenders in his face? Flacco is the least of this team's worries.

He was one of the youngest players in the draft and the knock on him was always that he was a little soft and needed to bulk up to take the punishment at the NFL level. Give him a couple of years. Dennis Pitta had 1 catch for 1 yard his entire rookie year.

Will Hill blew that play not Pees. Will Hill was the safety over the top but he came up to play the run and left Torrey 1 on 1. Did you even watch the game? Did you see Harbaugh grab Will Hill by the face mask after the play and yell at him for it? 9 times outta 10, giving up a big play on defense is the result of poor execution/communication and NOT play calling. Quit blaming the coaches for bad play on the field. Same low football IQ clowns calling for Pees to be fired are the same low football IQ clowns that called for Castillo to be fired 2 years ago. "Can't win with dumb players", period.

Yeah that bothered me too...I know it's a fluke play but you have 6'6" Gillmore, 6'6" Darren Waller, 6'5" Marlon Brown and you throw it to the 5' 9" guy. Same thing in the red zone, what good is a 6' 5"+ WR if you never throw him a jump ball.

Taking the field and in game shape are two totally different things. Pitta will practice for 3 weeks then be placed on the IR. That gives the Ravens all off-season to see if he can ever play again. If not, the Ravens can cut him next year and not have a ton of dead money towards the cap (actually save a little cap space - 600K)

You can't seriously watch the game and blame the bad defense, missed tackles, missed assignments, etc on the DC. It's not Pees fault that Will Hill played out of position letting Torrey have single coverage against a CB off the street with no safety help. It's not his fault that Daryl Smith is old & slow and can't cover a TE to save his life. It's not his fault that Arrington can only play man coverage on small slot receivers and is horrible in zone coverage. Darian Stewart is playing safety on the best defense in the league with the best pass rushers in the league - no comparison. We are signing guys off the street to play defense. Really, name one player on this team that you would consider a top Defensive player in the NFL? Suggs is hurt. That leaves Dumervil, Mosley & Jimmy Smith as our best defensive players. We have a couple of solid guys like Brandon Williams & Will Hill but let's not kid ourselves, this defense has ZERO playmakers - no pass rushers, no shutdown corners, no ball hawking safeties. We can stop the run, kinda, that's it. I don't care who you bring in as DC, until we get some more talent on this defense, it's at the bottom of the league. This is exactly what happens when you are in salary cap hell with too much dead money on the books. You can't afford to sign quality depth, so when injuries hit, you're stuck signing guys off the street.

You really think that Pees called a play that left Torrey in single coverage with no safety help? Really? C'mon man. That was a BLOWN ASSIGNMENT. Will Hill screwed up - he was supposed to be the deep safety. That's why you saw Harbaugh chewing his butt off on the sideline after the play. Just because the defense gives up a big play, doesn't mean the play call was wrong. Players did not execute. What DBs are stars in the making? Are you talking about all the waiver wire pick-ups? Will Davis, Shareece Wright, Kyle Arrington? There was a reason those guys were cut.

Torrey Smith 2015 Totals: 14 receptions, 323 yards, 2 TDs, $8,000,000.00 Salary Kamar Aiken 2015 Totals: 18 receptions, 265 yards, 2 TDs, $ 585,000.00 Salary So, do the numbers say that Joe elevated Torrey to a #1 WR and now that he's gone, he's become Kamar Aiken? Or does that say that Joe elevated Kamar to as good a WR as Torrey? Either way, the numbers prove your theory wrong. Given the same production, I'll take the guy that saves me $7 million in salary cap space. Torrey's last laugh is on the 49ers for paying him TOP WR money while giving them Kamar Aiken numbers.

Jalen Ramsey

Even with all of the injuries to our skill positions (RB, WR, TE), the Ravens are averaging almost 25 points per game. That's only 1 point less than last year and and on the higher end compared to other seasons. Starting with the play-off game last year in New England, the defense can't close out games, period. Injuries are a major factor (Suggs especially) but also a lack of leadership on defense in the locker room. A player needs to step up and be the vocal guy that holds guys accountable for their misplays. Sounds like Harbaugh and the staff see that too and hopefully Will Hill will step up (see what i did there ) and be that guy.

We all saw what happened when Smith played press coverage against Amari Cooper (then again with AJ Green). The secondary HAS to play 10 yards off the receivers otherwise, they get beat deep every time. Coaching won't change the fact that Arrington, Daryl Smith & Kendrick Lewis are HORRIBLE in coverage. But yet, you want them to play man to man, press coverage. If that happens, these games aren't even close.

The RB is responsible for picking up the blitz. I was always taught, block first, then run your route. If you watch, Juice even gets out of the guys way. A simple chip would have given Joe enough time to hit Aiken. Since it was a play-action boot leg, typically the TE cracks back on the DE (selling the play fake direction & sealing the edge) then slips out to either block the MLB or find open space in coverage, which is what Boyle did.