Filmstudy

We scored the same 22, plays, but the slant on this is unreal. Do you really need to point out that Stanley is 40-70 lbs heavier than the guys he's blocking? Of course he is, he's an NFL LT! Since he's not an exceptionally large NFL LT, literally every LT has these same size advantages, but very few could come away with the sort of clean sheet he had in game 1. Stanley's backside effort was good and he didn't give up a single pressure, hit, or sack, nor did he get penalized. That's a great place to start. He was my highest-graded Raven on offense in week 1, largely because it's intended as a measure of change in expectations and expectations for Stanley as a rookie LT are lower than at other positions. Here are my full grades along with an OL participation chart and notes if you're interested: http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/08/12/filmstudy/2016-draft-class-preseason-opener/ ***Edit***: Damn, Looks like I might have taken the bait reading up some and repeated the weight point made by another poster. Unlike "Guest", I look forward to grading every block Stanley makes for the Ravens.

Levine is indeed a roster lock, and a lock for activity on game day if healthy. His usage/play on Thursday was the single most interesting aspect of the game to me, because it represents a significant schematic shift for Pees. The Ravens played just 62 dime snaps the last 3 seasons (41, 8, 13, 2% of total snaps). On Thursday, after Levine practiced with the LBs this camp, he played 18 snaps as the dime, all in obvious passing situations. He made 3 good plays among those 18, the PD/near pick, the drive-ending tackle on Wegher (Q4, 12:57) in the open field, and negotiation of the screen traffic (Q3, 4:30) where he arrived on time, but the WR had been tripped up by Elam. He showed AA blitz with Brown several times and will provide more options on 3rd down in terms of coverage than a linebacker. I expect him to play well in the role and join a fine line of quality dimes the Ravens have had (Ralph Staten, Corey Harris, Chad Williams, Jerome Sapp, and Haruki Nakamura). Those guys may be lesser known, but they all made some big plays and were on the field for the highest leverage downs, so their contribution was magnified. I wrote a piece on the dime recently here that compares Pees-era dime usage to the 2000 Ravens defense: http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/07/29/camp-notes/ravens-defensive-backs-dime-defense/ If you're interested, here are my grades by player from Thursday's game (long): http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/08/12/filmstudy/2016-draft-class-preseason-opener/

I agree, this is the most significant quote I have heard from Harbaugh in a long time, because it's alludes to a complete departure from the scheme the Ravens have played for 3 seasons (only 62 dime snaps in total 2013-15). I asked him the question after I noticed Levine was practicing with the linebackers. The idea of the sort of organized chaos created by the 2000 or 2006 or 2008 Ravens wasn't predicated on the great front 7, it was variation of DB usage. Please don't get me wrong, I loved what Pernell McPhee did for the Ravens pass rush when he was here, but Rex and Marvin Lewis caused confusion by frequently having 6 or 7 DBs on the field. The 2000 Ravens, with one of the greatest front 7s ever assembled, used 6 or 7 DBs on more than 34% of plays. The last 3 seasons, the Ravens have used 6 or 7 DBs on just 2.3% of plays. It's very difficult to confuse the defense on a passing down when you only have one pass defense, a 2-ILB (or 3-ILB) nickel.

I like Stanley's feet, backside effort, and experience. Here are a few notes from last night's open practice: http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/08/02/camp-notes/ronnie-stanley-stands-out/

The answer is going to differ by package, but I think it will be pretty simple to start the season, assuming no further camp injuries: When the run is a good possibility, it will be Correa at ILB When the pass is the better possibility, we'll see a lot of dime with Anthony Levine next to Mosley and Correa playing often at OLB. The biggest surprise of camp to date positionally has been Levine. He's practicing every day with the linebackers and he's playing with Arthur Brown at LB in 11-man drills. However, he's got no business playing ILB on a run down based on size (200 lbs), so he's a pure dime in the mold of Ralph Staten, Corey Harris, Chad Williams, Jerome Sapp, or Haruki Nakamura. He'll set up in the box next to Mosley on passing downs, but you may not see it until week 1. This is a big philosophical shift for the Ravens, who have basically not played the dime in the last 3 seasons (62 total snaps with 6 DBs, see below for comparisons to 2000 team). Here is a piece I wrote on the topic for that includes a very telling quote from Harbaugh: http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/07/29/camp-notes/ravens-defensive-backs-dime-defense/ Levine may not be the dime they settle on this season, Elam is also getting snaps there (but still practicing with the DBs). However, I do expect Anthony will get the first shot when the season begins and the Ravens to employ the dime on a significant percentage of passing downs.

I've attended every Ravens playoff game, but the best experience was the divisional win versus the Titans on the first Super Bowl run. It was at that point we decided we'd never miss another playoff game. The Mile High Miracle was close as an experience, and the most exciting for the game itself. The most exciting regular season game is still Seattle 2003 with so many extraordinary individual plays, the great comeback, officiating fiasco, 4th and 28 conversion, and a half-empty stadium making a full stadium's worth of noise. It's the only time I can recall leaving the stadium where everyone still was so pumped up they were high fiving strangers outside at home (you see that on the road frequently).

Mosley has been wearing the green dot since the Tampa game of his rookie year when he took over from D Smith. If this was "announced" somehow by the team, it's simply confirming that he'll continue rather than have Weddle take over. The Ravens have always (to the best of my knowledge) had an ILB as defensive signal caller. That's included, Lewis, Hartwell, Bynes, Smith, Mosley, McClain and probably a couple of others (Ellerbe, Scott, Greisen?). It is possible that Turner was calling plays at some point in 1996, but that would be the only non-ILB signal caller. Even Rod Woodson did not get that role here. Because the green-dot ILB has to be on the field for every play (that's a practical need, not a rule), there is a loss of flexibility from having your signal caller be an ILB rather than a safety, because it doesn't allow for as much defensive substitution on passing downs, be that in the form of additional pass rush threats or extra defensive backs.

#86 Billy Davis had a couple of cool moments for the Ravens, including 2 big first down conversions on the final drive of the comeback vs. Jacksonville in 2000.

I think the team needs another starting guard or backup interior lineman. Despite some of the coach speak and some moments for Jensen in 2015, he didn't play well in a 6-game trial. He was frequently penalized and had fall-off-the-table games versus St Louis and Seattle. I like his physicality, but he's not a good pass blocker. Here is my game-by-game grading for the OL for last season: http://russellstreetreport.com/filmstudy-ravens-offensive-line-grades-by-game-2015/ Urschel was also a big disappointment at center in 7 games of extended play for Zuttah. Week-by-week OL commentary with explanations of these grades and the scoring method is available Here: http://russellstreetreport.com/author/filmstudy/ I'm hopeful both players can take a step forward, but the offensive success of this team depends on the Ravens finding a player who can be the starter at LG. It's possible that could be Jensen or Urschel, but the fact the Ravens have tried out 33-year-old Todd Herremans should tell you where the Ravens believe they are thin.

To me, BK's ability to rush from the 5T may well define this draft for the Ravens. If he can generate solid pash rush productivity plus a few batted passes per year from inside, the Ravens should have a fearsome 4-man front on passing downs (Suggs/Correa/Dumervil outside with Jernigan, Kaufusi inside). Just 2 years ago, McPhee was the team's defensive MVP (that's my opinion, of course) and keyed the pass rush success of Suggs and Dumervil by demanding, and regulalry beating, double teams on the inside. The Ravens had the best 4-man front in the league for the 2nd half. BK doesn't need to be McPhee, because Jernigan is also a dangerous pass rusher if singled, but he does need to prove he can win when singled at this level. He also needs to quickly demonstrate he should win the win the situational pass rushing role over Guy and over the 3-ILB option Pees used in 2015. If the team is forced to move BK to OLB, they'll have lost a great deal of value for the highest leverage plays.

To me, BK's ability to rush from the 5T may well define this draft for the Ravens. If he can generate solid pash rush productivity plus a few batted passes per year from inside, the Ravens should have a fearsome 4-man front on passing downs (Suggs/Correa/Dumervil outside with Jernigan, Kaufusi inside). Just 2 years ago, McPhee was the team's defensive MVP (that's my opinion, of course) and keyed the pass rush success of Suggs and Dumervil by demanding, and regulalry beating, double teams on the inside. The Ravens had the best 4-man front in the league for the 2nd half. BK doesn't need to be McPhee, because Jernigan is also a dangerous pass rusher if singled, but he does need to prove he can win when singled at this level. He also needs to quickly demonstrate he should win the win the situational pass rushing role over Guy and over the 3-ILB option Pees used in 2015. If the team is forced to move BK to OLB, they'll have lost a great deal of value for the highest leverage plays.

Lewis isn't the physical player you'd want in the box. Elam has missed a number tackles, but he could handle some of the man coverage responsibilities of a dime. I don't think either Orr or Brown has proved they should be on the field for 3rd down.

Brown may not make the team, because he's in the last year of his rookie deal. If he does, I'd take it as a good sign that he'll be getting some playing time other than ST. That said, I expect Orr to be the starter at ILB for most games.

You're missing Willie Henry. It's conceivable he'll end up on IR, but he is certain to be in the Ravens' plans.

The most complete video I have ever seen of Super Bowl V (3 quarters plus TV audio for the 4th) is now posted on YouTube. As I'm sure most of you know, it was an incredibly ugly game, but a great watch simply for the big differences in the game, the broadcast, and the world at the time. Here's a piece I wrote on it that contains the link to the video: http://russellstreetreport.com/2016/03/04/flashbackfridays/super-bowl-v-video-filmstudy/

If you've ever managed a talented group of people, you know hiring can force you to choose between prospective time in the job and talent. Get a less talented person and they'll stay longer. Having managed actuaries for my career, I'll take talent over prospective tenure every time. I don't know this for a fact, but given the source of Bisciotti's wealth, and an article he had published on the Ravens process to hire Harbaugh, I would guess he feels the same way. In a defensive coaching staff, having that regular turnover at the top is VERY healthy if you have solid succession planning and can maintain the culture of hiring talent. When a DC leaves, the positional coaches all get opportunities for promotion and there are new hiring opportunities. So you want one DC for the next decade? Be prepared for the talented positional coaches to move on for greener pastures.

60% is high. The average since I have been recording in 2010 has been 51%. My ATS definition, ignoring some fine exceptions is that the QB must have 1. 3 full seconds 2. Be able to step into his throw 3. In a 120 degree arc centered on the targeted receiver. The most significant question comes up when the ball is out quickly on a screen or hot read. In those cases, I watch the play and try to determine if the pocket would have held up. On a screen where linemen are trying to move out front to block, the answer is usually no. I know it sounds like there is a lot of subjectivity, but if we took 30 minutes to understand the rules, then scored a game separately, we'd agree on 95%+ of ATS categorizations.

I have some specifics on pressure for Mallett on Sunday in my article here: http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/12/30/filmstudy/steelers-did-little-to-test-ryan-mallett/ The 2 biggest points are that he had Ample Time and Space (ATS) on 25 of 42 dropbacks (60%) and the Steelers rushed 5 only 7 times (never more). They were effectively content that he couldn't beat them from the pocket. Just in terms of yardage, Mallett's performance was consistent with his opportunity set. However, that was just the 3rd game all season the Ravens have gone without an interception.

That's where I am too, Cill. It is always a good sign when a rookie plays well to close out a season. I'll be interested to see how he handles a bigger snap load next season with inevitable changes. I read in one of these posts that Dumervil's rush has fallen off in the last few weeks, with 0 QH or sacks for 3 straight games. It was my contention that the Ravens revived his career by changing him from an every-down player to a situational pass rusher. He started this season well as a rusher, but he may be feeling the impact of cumulative snap counts an the attendant nagging injuries..

I rewatched the game and scored the OL on Monday night. Here are the raw numbers and score: Osemele vs. Steelers: 73 Plays, 64 blocks, 5 Missed, 1 penetration, 1 (2 X half charges) pressure, 1 QH, 1 false start, 54 points (.74 per play). With an adjustment for Harrison/Jarvis Jones, that's a high C. He had 3 highlight blocks. The best of those was his cave in of Harrison to open a gaping hole on 3rd and 2 (Q4, 3:46). However, Tuitt beat Yanda badly to the inside to take down West before he could turn towards the great wide open

From reviewing the defense, PFF is on the money that Mosley had a bad game. When the Steelers ran the ball effectively early on, they got a lineman or the FB on Mosley every play and he was unable to shed. In particular, rewatch the Steelers first 4 offensive plays for good examples. His worst play of the game may have come when he took a bad angle in coverage of Williams, which allowed 20 YAC to be tacked onto a 2-yard pass (Q4, 8:36). Don't just take my word for it (or PFF's), watch yourself and decide.

I'd be happy if that were the case, but he's missed a lot of snaps in the last few games after being the only every-down DB for a long time. I think we can agree there is some fundamental gap in his assignment discipline if he was removed for the Steelers' final lateral play, but Arrington and Levine were on.

Wow, I score the OL tonight. I hope the game was as good as they think. A passing score at guard by my system is .70 after adjustment. His scores the last 4 weeks have been: StL: .57 F Cleveland: .82 C Miami: .36 F Seattle: .81 C The Miami game is close to the worst game I've ever scored for a guard and his aggregate play has been below the replacement level prior to Sunday. I want to say I was a fan of PFF for the raw statistics their service used to provide (pressures, coverage targets, etc.). However, since Collinsworth bought the controlling stake, the company has gone down a path of reduced transparency that is disappointing. PFF's scoring by play (-2 to +2) has a fundamental flaw that treats pass and run blocking plays as of equivalent value. Pass plays have the vast bulk of the leverage (effect on win probability) in this league, so combining run and pass block grades derived in this way doesn't work. I still believe they represent the best anchor for broad OL analysis if you keep those grades separate.

Completely agree with the 4th and 15 play. It has been truly rare in 2015 that a Raven corner did all of: 1. Find the football early 2. Stay stride for stride 3. Go up for a clean PD with his hand (as opposed to a strip, hit, or forceout)