It's tough to lose 4 games in a row.  However, I do see light at the end of the tunnel.  In the fact that Cinci is not as good as in the past, we face Pittsburgh once without Big Ben.  We have a good chance to win this division since it's the weakest it's been in a long time.  If we don't win the division, then I think we have a realistic shot at the last wildcard.  Remember, we don't need to be playing our best football now -- it's in December - January when it counts the most.  After this bye week, we should get back quite a few of the vets -- I think on offense you need that emotional firecracker -- Steve Smith to keep the team focused.  On Defense, I think we could realistically see a change at safety -- as Webb is just not the answer.  When Mosley gets back that will shore up our middle.  

Let's not lose hope -- this is still a division within our reach!

I find it amazing that people want to talk about replacing Harbs and Ozzie!  Seriously -- look at the other head coaches in the league?  How many are going to be BETTER than Harbs?  Belichick is probably the only head coach that may be going to the Hall of Fame in the league right now.   Pete Carroll may be the only other coach that I'd replace with Harbs, and his career record is actually worse than Harbs!  

This may be enlightening to read -- to get an idea of how badly Head Coaches are lacking in the league!

Hall of Fame-caliber coaches are at an all-time low

So please, if you say to replace Harbs in this thread -- then post who'd you replace him with!

When it's all said and done, Harbs will be walking into the Hall of Fame with a .600 winning percentage during the regular season and a better winning percentage in the playoffs!

God bless,

Worthy

Praise God!  Finally, some good news after yesterday's loss.

A key point about Marty M.  ---  from the Ravens site -- 

2013-14: (with New York Jets) Spent two seasons as offensive coordinator, helping the Jets rank third in rushing offense (138.7 ypg) during that span. 2014: Helped guide a rushing attack that finished third in the NFL (142.5 ypg) behind RBs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson..

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/coaches/Marty-Mornhinweg/cf78698f-fb5f-4398-86d0-8ef364521cdd

Have you ever gotten to the point where enough is enough?  I'm at that point.  I'm not bothering wasting my time to watch stupid play calling cost us the game!  We need to run the ball -- and even when we run the BALL WELL -- we stop running the ball!  If Trestman is not fired -- I'm not bothering watching a game because I know I will be frustrated at the play calling.  RUN RUN RUN -- play action pass -- bombs away!  That's the formula for success for Joe Flacco!

The UGLY is the fact in a TIE BREAKER at the end of the year -- this loss may very well hurt us!

Only 6 Teams in -- 

Denver
Patriots
Texans (they could go 9-7 and probably win their division)

So you're looking at 4 teams fighting for 3 spots.  

Steelers
Ravens
Oakland
Bengals

Let's say the NFL North beats each other up -- we could have 4 -- 10-6 or 11-5 teams -- and Oakland has the tiebreaker over us!

29 minutes ago, BmoreBird22 said:

Kinda wish that were a strategy the Ravens would look at because it seems to be working for the Bengals and Vikings.

I think they have been doing that for years!  If you look at this rookie class in a few years, I believe you'll see 7 impactful starters on a regular basis.  Stanley, Correa, Young, Moore, Lewis, Dixon and Judon all look to be great draft picks so far.

If the Ravens were looking at the salary cap situation next year in this years draft class, they probably foresaw the need to cut Dumervil ($6 M Base), Pitta ($5.5M Base), Watson ($3M Base), Forsett ($3M Base), K. Lewis ($1.8 M Base), and Arrington ($2.1 M Base).  

They probably saw the savings to the Vets allowing them to sign this offseason Brandon Williams and Ricky Wagner -- which will eat most of the savings from cuts they foresaw. 

So they drafted whom they needed to replace Dumervil in the tandem of Correa and Judon.  They drafted 4 TEs (if you include Waller) to restock our TE line.  We grabbed a RB in Dixon to replace Forsett next year.  We grabbed Young to replace Arrington.

So I believe they Ravens have been doing exactly what you say the Bengals and Vikings are doing! 

Can you imagine a game between the Redskins and the Ravens during the midst of a Hurricane?

1 minute ago, rmcjacket23 said:

They didn't start the game off under protecting. We were using 6 man protections for much of the game. That's not under protecting... thats standard protection for most teams on passing downs.

 

So you think Joe was protected this game?

2 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

So three obvious passing situations, where the defense doesn't have to worry about the run?

 

So it's obvious that we NEED to PROTECT -- if we're passing!  Don't you get it!   

15 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Or you can just get your starting LT and LG back healthy, which is likely to happen this week, and those edge rushers won't beat you every snap.

Against a team like the Redskins, who has no quality healthy edge rushers right now, your strategy would be a waste most likely.

 

As long as Joe is getting HIT -- then it's NECESSARY to keep people chipping!  Until he has a clean pocket with his O-Line -- you NEED to do all that you NEED to do!   I don't care if it's 5 people protecting or 8 people protecting -- as long as Joe doesn't get hit!  So you need to start OVERPROTECTING -- then decide if you can send more receivers out!  You don't start the game off -- underprotecting to see if the O-Line can handle it -- you start the OPPOSITE way!  Start with PROTECTION -- PROTECTION -- PROTECTION!  Then tweak your game plan!

11 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

No, but the other like half dozen 3rd and long plays you showed were.

The plays I showed -- 

Hurst hold -- 3rd and 4
No pressure -- 3rd and 7
Flacco Stripped Sacked -- 3rd and 6
Incomplete Pass -- 2nd and 10

Plays Made with Protection
Wallace -- 1st and 10 (17 yards)
Aiken -- 3rd and 18 (20 yards with keeping people IN)
Gilmore -- 2nd and 8
S. Smith -- 1st and 10
 

The 3rd and 4,7 and 6 yards -- they weren't so LONG that you couldn't keep everyone in!  Proof -- Aiken's 20 yard completion is 3rd and 18!  If we can complete a 3rd and 18 with keeping people in to protect -- then for heavens' sake we can keep people in for 3rd and less than 10!

7 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

This was a 6 man protection, just like the other one's you showed me that resulted in pressure. 

Execution was the difference here, not design.

 

The fumble wasn't a 6 man protection.  The other 6 man protection was a RB protecting from the inside rush.

1 minute ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Not sure having your QB running for his life and fleeing the pocket on a play not designed for him to do that is really making your case. 

What happens if Gilmore doesn't block there?   If he doesn't stop (not sure who it was on the Raiders) he would have had a FREE shot on Joe!

My entire point is that with EDGE rushers -- you need to chip them inside -- do it every stinking play!  Just DO IT and you'll see how fast our OFFENSE will take off!

On this TD pass -- Pitta chips Mack -- and whatta know -- TD!

My entire point of this thread is that all our successful deep balls we chipped every time!  Just chip all day long!  Make it a point that every stinking play -- the TE's, RBs chip someone!  Give Joe time and he's an ELITE QB!  

Gilmore solid block -- gives Flacco an extra second -- then catches a 10-yard completion!

Pitta chip blocks -- then goes out -- suddenly Aiken open for 20 yards.  Called back on penalty.  This is the results of keeping TEs in and blocking before releasing!

With people chipping, blocking, and only 2 WR going out!  17 yard completion!

Just now, rmcjacket23 said:

So your solution was to chip Mack, and let Irvin or the other side rusher get a free rush? 

Hint: Wagner wasn't very good in this game. 

 

HIT BOTH of them!  You needed to shut down their pass rush -- and you give as much HELP as necessary!  Run double TE sets if necessary!  But we allowed too much pressure all game long!  That's the whole reason we lost!  You FIRST priority is pass protection!  If you don't pass protect -- you don't complete passes and you leave as many as you need to leave in to protect as necessary!  It's that simple!

2 minutes ago, rmcjacket23 said:

We have six in protection here also. 

But nobody chipped Mack on Hurst.  The TE needs to line up on Hurst's side -- Jab him inside -- then go out into the flat.  Mack was a one man wrecking crew -- and WE KNEW that going into the GAME!  We didn't game plan effectively to SHUT HIM OUT!

1 minute ago, rmcjacket23 said:

Buck Allen chipped on this play... he just did it badly. 

Allen didn't block -- he touched!  LOL!  And nobody touched Mack!   With HURST on MACK -- don't you agree that he NEEDED HELP on EVERY PLAY?

On Carr's TD Pass -- they leave 7 people to block -- a TE / and a RB to give Carr time to find ONE OF 3 WR that go out on the route!

Just leave TE to block, and then go into the flats!  With Perriman, Wallace, S Smith, and C. Moore and their speed -- are you not suggesting if you give Joe plenty of time -- they can't get OPEN?  Just give Joe TIME and we'll DRIVE efficiently every game!

Do you now see what I am referring to when I say -- at critical times we DID NOT CHIP BLOCK!