Filmstudy

Brooks is not getting snaps at FS because of Kendrick Lewis is there. It's that simple. Lewis has a bigger contract (one that counted against comp picks), more experience than Brooks does. They didn't sign him and all that to bench the guy, even with how bad he's playing, which ruined Brooks' chance to see the field unless of injuries. Brooks came in when Lewis is down because he's the 2nd string FS and possibly SS if Hill went down. So it's not like Webb is the backup, it's just they like him back there on certain plays and want to see how he does back there. The coaches committed to Lewis and Hill at safety which basically gave Brooks no shot at playing time this season unless of injury which has happened, but very little. He only got to play last year because we had a safety rotation thing going on which was pretty stupid and I'm glad they changed that system. All I hope is that it's Brooks in Hill that are locked in as the starting safeties one day.

You're saying some of the same things, but there are some important differences.  Pees has clearly demonstrated by action the exact pecking order at FS.  It's:

1.  Webb

2.  Lewis

3.  Hill

4-6.  Trawick, Levine, Brooks in an order not demonstrated recently.

First of all, Lewis' contract is not being considered as a reason to play him now.  The Ravens have some option value there, but will cut bait if they have to.  How do I know?  Because they've recently signed Hill to a much larger contract and have already started sitting him for a number of passing snaps.  If they'll ignore that sunk cost, they'll certainly ignore it for a smaller contract like Lewis'.

Hill played just 47 of 66 meaningful snaps versus Seattle and Lewis just 57.  When Webb moved to safety, who was replacing Hill?  It was effectively Kyle Arrington, who entered at corner for 14 snaps (6 quarter where both safeties were on and 8 nickel with Hill out).  The other snaps missed by the Lewis and Hill went to Wright when Webb moved to safety in a standard alignment with one of the other safeties and Smith/Wright at corner.

I suspect Pees and Harbaugh are upset with the safeties for the absurd total of 0 tip-drill interceptions (no interceptions where the first Ravens to touch the ball didn't do the intercepting) this season for the whole team.  It's a serious weakness of both players that they can't anticipate or position for tips/overthrows and those 2 have the largest responsibility for such plays.  And that weakness comes despite the fact they have been far from the worst defensive players on the team.

The Urban snap counts have a pretty simple explanation.  My totals vary from other published sources, because they don't include penalties, kneels, spikes, or ST plays.  These are strictly meaningful, defensive snaps by game:

Cle: 11

Mia: 6

Sea: 29

KC: 11

Two things effect Urban's playing time significantly:

1.  The amount of snaps played in the nickel.  Urban doesn't typically play those yet, because Guy and Jernigan or just Jernigan among linemen get those snaps.

2.  The injury to Canty came in the Seattle game.  Urban's snap count was fairly normal until halftime, but 16 of his snaps came after Canty left the game in Q3.  The Seattle game was also an outlier because the Ravens played 4 DBs on 45 of 66 meaningful snaps. 

Honestly, I don't see a reason to be complaining about his playing time.  Carl Davis and Kapron have been the victims (in terms of playing time) of a very healthy set of defensive linemen.  In KLM's case, he's wasted his 3rd year in the league with just 49 snaps to date.

As to Brooks' playing time, that's more strange, but it doesn't directly relate to Brooks.

Hill and Lewis had not been playing every snap in the 2 games prior to last week, with each surrendering snaps to Webb at safety.  Harbaugh said Webb would move to safety and slot CB, but no longer play on the outside, where he was twice beaten for Seattle TD's.  However, when Jimmy Smith went down, Webb returned to outside corner (or SCB in the nickel) for every snap and Lewis/Hill played every snap at safety.  The one exception was a play where Brooks was in for Lewis after he went down and had to take a play off.

Looking at Brooks' season, the club is obviously unconvinced he can help on the back end, because they've pretty clearly demonstrated by action that they don't trust Hill and Lewis there.  

All of Brooks' snaps have come in a specialist role.  He played nickel (SCB) when the Ravens corner situation was most dire earlier in the year (36 snaps vs. Cle).  He spied Wilson for 6 snaps vs. Seattle, and he's played a handful of other snaps in injury relief.  But the key is that he hasn't really got a shot as a FS (his draft position) since his awful TD allowed to Colston at NO last season.  It wasn't JUST that play, or some lingering doghouse impact.  The guy is 4th among players trusted to play FS and I can only surmise that's what the coaches keep seeing in practice.

One thing holding back Brooks is the lack of 6 and 7-DB alignments by the Ravens.  If they played more dime and quarter, he'd get more chances, but Pees has just started to play a few such snaps (including 6 quarter sets versus Sea, all with Brooks as spy).

For those not familiar, I write a regular column on the defense each week.  Here is a link to the most recent, which has a heavy component on snaps played by young players:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/12/21/filmstudy/knowing-when-to-fold-em/

Well, I'll go ahead and put it out there then...

 

Who, precisely (I'm asking for names) are the guys that we should be benching/significantly reducing playing time in order to see young guys play? Who are the young guys who should see more playing time because of this and why have they earned that playing time?

 

I have a feeling a lot of the players that will be listed are already having this happen to them, in which case we aren't really discussing anything futuristic. 

Daryl Smith has been solid since he got here and played well against the Dolphins.  The same could be said about Canty.  however, neither player is likely to contribute to the next Ravens contender, so they would be good candidates to give up time to players like Orr, ABrown, Carl Davis, and KLM.

Something is systemically wrong with Tray Walker.  Either he can't learn the playbook, or he has terrible work habits, or he's behind in some significant way physically, because otherwise we would have seen him already.  The Ravens keep giving backup opportunities to Kyle Arrington.

Brooks should probably be starting, but there might be something wrong there as well.  The Ravens have been essentially unwilling to put him at free safety since the gaffe at New Orleans last season.  This continues even though the team has moved to taking Hill off the field on some 3rd downs because he isn't the coverage asset they hoped on the back end.

On offense literally everyone is getting a shot due to injuries.  Dan Brown is getting a significant shot.  Butler is playing well after what seems like a decade on the practice squad.  Kamar Aiken is the number 1!  Chris Givens was acquired for almost nothing and has been a legitimate separator.  Ross, Clay, and Mostert all were in-season pickups who have had offensive snaps.  Jensen and Hurst are getting opportunities they frankly don't deserve.  Terrence West was picked up off the scrap heap and will probably make the team next season.  Allen has provided much more than could reasonably have been hoped and looks like a real asset going forward.

Versus the Dolphins, Brooks, Trawick, Levine, ABrown, and Vaughn did not have any defensive snaps, but every single offensive player who dressed except Clausen played at least 1 snap of offense.  I think the "everyone is going to get a shot" mentality on offense has actually kept the team together and playing hard.

That draft kills me. Elam, Brown, Simon who got cut

They got 3 bad players with a 1, 2, and 4.  That's bad, but I'd encourage folks not to be selective about it.  They also drafted the best nose tackle in the game (from a small school) in the 3rd round, a good fullback in round 4, and a quality RT in round 5.

Right now the 2012 draft looks worse and  Upshaw and Osemele are both about to depart.

Here's what I see...

 

4. Daryl Smith played a terrible game, and I can see him losing snaps soon. He's horrendous in coverage against TEs and often gets lost in space in zone coverage. I suspect we will have a new MLB next season at that position.

 

I don't know what was wrong w/ Buck last night.  He was god-awful and he missed easy tackles on crucial downs.  Quietly he's still one of our top defenders for the year, but yeah I could see him losing snaps to McClellan on passing downs. 

Hi folks.  not sure if you guys noticed, but Orr played a career-high 27 snaps versus the Browns and Daryl played just 45 of 68.  Orr was used in a far broader set of passing downs than simply 3rd and long where he was being used previously.

I have more detail in my weekly piece about the defense:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/12/01/filmstudy/brent-urban-ravens-debut-win-cleveland/

Effectively, the transition is already well underway to Smith as a 2-down player.

And not to pick, but McClellan's versatility to play ILB/OLB to go along with his solid ST play earned him a spot, but he's been used exclusively as an OLB this season since the injuries to Means and Suggs.  He's played 121 snaps this season as the 4th OLB behind Upshaw (557), Dumervil (513), and ZSmith (247).

I literally do not think Davis completed a pass to a man Jimmy was covering...

Or even targeted

Smith gave up a 16-yard play to Benjamin on the left sideline (Q4, 2:00).

They showed a commitment early on to keeping Webb in the slot as much as they can, evident by Arrington playing the outside and Wright coming in. Webb will still play the outside, but it seems he's either going to be in the slot or at safety now. It doesn't sound like this is a permanent switch, at least not yet.

I still see Webb continuing on the outside when the Ravens play 4 DBs, but I agree he'll be safety or SCB in the nickel.  

Part of the value of having Webb at safety is that it adds a layer of unpredictability to the defense when he might be at either slot or safety in the nickel.  If Pees decides every nickel will have Webb at safety, then that 1-size-fits-all pass defense will still be easy to game plan against.

There are 2 things I like about the move:

• The move puts ball skills on the back end for a team where lack of turnovers is the single biggest defensive issue
• The move adds a wrinkle to an extraordinarily plain pass defense which should move the difficulty level for opposing game planning from "novice" to "normal".

If you're interested, I published more on the post-bye week defensive adjustments (including the first dime snaps of the season) here:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/11/16/filmstudy/ravens-make-key-changes-still-lose/

This was a complex game of adjustments in the secondary.  Thanks to my better half, Maureen, who tirelessly records the secondary changes at the game. 

A big issue for the Ravens' defense is the ease with which other OCs can game plan against it.  They only have one defense for 3+ receivers, and that's a nickel with both ILBs on the field.  Occasionally they have mixed it up with Orr, and 3 ILBs on the field, but in every case:

1.  The other teams have linebackers to exploit in coverage

2.  The other teams know the Ravens are far less likely to rush the passer with any of their secondary than if they were playing dime.

3.  Pees is forced to scheme for pressure in other ways that compromise the hot reads in particular (like showing the double A blitz)

The Ravens have played zero defensive snaps this season with 6+ DBs on the field (only 8 last year, so the tendency was known).  Pees has said that it's a matter of personnel, and I sympathize with the predicament, but virtually every dime defense ever has had substitution of specialists for what are better defensive football players on 1st and 10.

To put that last statement in some perspective, can you recall the 3 Ravens DBs from 2000 who made up the nickel, dime, and quarter additions to the base 4 (Starks, McAlister, Woodson, Herring)?  While you're thinking, do you suppose they were better football players than Siragusa, Adams, and Sharper?

They were not, of course, and each was a journeyman playing in their 8th, 9th, and 10th seasons respectively (see names at bottom).

Back to Brown.  His big asset is speed and he would be a solid choice for a LB who can provide flexibility to rush or cover if the Ravens continue to play nickel.  If the Ravens move to a 3-man front with 2 ILBs and 6 DBs, then I think any pair among Brown, Mosley, and Smith could provide flexibility to cover or rush the passer.

The 3 Ravens DBs who were on the field in the quarter (7DB) alignments in 2000 were Trapp, Harris, and Robert Bailey.  Lewis ran the quarter 55 times during the regular season and it produced 9 turnovers on those plays.

The Steelers had not lost a lead of 13 points (at any time during the game) at home since 1964.

The Steelers had only once previously lost a 13-point lead under Tomlin (at Cincinnati in 2009).

The "what" is impressive, but even more so is the "how".

1. The Ravens did it primarily with the run.
2. The Ravens won despite a -2 turnover margin

I have seen the PFF scores, which show both Wagner and Hurst with -10 or more, but from scoring the game and reviewing every block, I'd say:

Wagner played poorly and was fully deserving of a F grade, but his performance was simply a bad F against a great opponent.

Hurst, on the other hand had a historically awful performance.  In fact, his game was the worst i have ever scored for a lineman with 35+ snaps (.15).  And I only need the 35-snap limit to exclude his own 33-snap effort versus JJ Watt last December (-.03).

If you are interested in more particulars, here is my OL grading piece for the Broncos game:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/09/16/filmstudy/ravens-tackles-fail-in-denver/

If the team really needs a field stretcher right now, Waller is the obvious choice.  He's got the size to go up for the football and he'll be a flag-drawing machine on deep balls.  I hope they can find out if he'll put his mid section at risk during the Oakland game, because they will really want him for Pittsburgh's dwarf secondary.

But looking backwards, there simply wasn't time for Flacco to make such throws on Sunday.

Curious to see how you rated Webb. I've seen the extreme saying he's done, but I thought he was alright, probably below average if I had to say. He's definitely not the 2011 version of Webb, but I thought it was an improvement over the 2014 Webb.

I thought he was probably the most tentative in the secondary, but I'd agree, he played better than last year.  If we're talking expectations for Webb alone for the year, mine went way up after game 1.  He played OK after missing the whole preseason!

Here is my article on the defense if you are interested:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/09/14/filmstudy/ravens-defensive-notes-v-broncos/

Individually (and setting aside Suggs), Upshaw is my biggest concern with the additional high-leverage snaps he'll be playing this year.

Mosley most definitely had the comm helmet on.  I saw that as well.  Mosley is the real deal, kid is gross.

Mosley has had the green dot since week 6 last season at Tampa.  Prior to that Daryl Smith had it since the beginning of 2013.

Carl Davis is nasty. He's been far superior to Williams and Perriman so far. 

 

 

But Carl has endurance issues.

Are you referring to wearing down over a season or needing a snap count limit per game, or both?

Ideally the Ravens can get about 35 snaps per game from him, but the temptation is going to be very great to increase that total since he is a 2-way contributor.  To me, Davis is the logical candidate for the 4th man in passing fronts with Doom, Babin, and Jernigan.  He'll command doubles, create opportunities for the other 3 to play 1-on-1, and open space for ILB blitzes. 

I personally thought Arrington looked pretty good overall...  I wouldn't criticize his performance at all.  I'm looking forward to our Defense this year....  We looked awesome.

Arrington had a fine game as a pass rusher, but the Ravens need slot coverage and he had his troubles with crossing and out routes.

Doing some research on Babin, and it sounds like he's been a better overall player as a 3-4 OLB than a 4-3 DE.  It sounds like he can be a competent run defender and edge setter as a standup LB.  You still prefer him not to be on the field in those instances, but he can do it if necessary.  I'd imagine having a DL that routinely 2 gaps frees him up a bit more.

This is right on the nose.  The defense in which he had a fine 2014 is very similarly constituted to the Ravens this season with a massive and talented interior line.

Here is my piece on Babin including review of 4 games:

http://russellstreetreport.com/2015/09/16/filmstudy/jason-babin-valuable-all-3-downs/

To cut to the chase...He's a much better 3-down option than Doom, IMO, via the combination of the production he can provide and not losing Doom as a fresh pass rusher on passing downs.

Babin played a lot of snaps, and with good effect at the end of last season, but I'd be thrilled if the Ravens can get 35-40 snaps of rotational play where he's in for 3 downs on some series and provides some protection from the no huddle.

If you ever wanted to pick a game where coaching was a limited factor, this was it.

The Ravens lost this game almost entirely due to Miller and Ware taking Hurst and Wagner to the woodshed.  It would have been nearly impossible to double either, let alone both.  And by doing so, you sacrifice or delay eligible receivers.  It's an addage almost as old as the forward pass that the ability to create 4-man pressure is the easiest path to defensive dominance.

Even during the final drive 16-play drive when the Denver pass rush should have been tired, Hurst gave up 6 pressure events and Wagner 5!

The Ravens didn't get outcoached, they got outplayed.

I'm not sure he'll be cut, but Dezmen Southward of the Falcons would be a decent 6th corner, particularly if he can return kicks.  Some of the Falcons roster predictions have him on the outside, so my guess is he could be had for a player at a position of depth (ILB or DL).

Instead of trying to fit pieces based on his draft status, how about we just fit in players that deserves to be on a 53 roster?

 

Orr tops Arthur Brown in every phase of the game.   Durability, knack for finding plays, quickness on scrimmage, ability to tackle both backfield and in the trenches.   Yes, Arthur Brown was a high 2nd round pick and Orr was undrafted, but its pretty clear Orr has shown a MUCH more promising career with a smaller window of opportunity than Arthur has.   

 

It is already year #3 for Arthur and he is basically still trying to punch through 3rd stringer role.   So after 2 seasons being on 53 roster, he finally figured out(MAYBE) to be viable in ST??? Its not acceptable.   

I agree with you on Orr over Brown.  This PS, Orr has had the green dot much more than ABrown.  That's a commitment I believe is significant.

The 2 arguments you mention for ABrown proponents are:

1.  He was a 2nd round pick.  That's actually a detriment now based on his prospective cap charges relative to Orr.

2.  He is a 3rd-year player.  Another detriment.  Orr is a 2nd-year player with 3 years of team control (RFA year included) vs. 2 for Brown.

Said otherwise, ABrown needs to outplay Orr significantly to be the better value relative to the cap and options.  

McClellan is the player ABrown could beat out for a spot, because Albert is more expensive and has only 1 year of team control.  I have said that if we see the team extend McClellan for 1 year this camp, it's a good sign the team is ready to jettison Brown.

I don't think it's possible that all 3 make it based on the developing depth concerns at DL, RB, and CB where the potential need for inactive reserves (Jernigan, Webb, Taliaferro) create roster pressure.

As to Arthur being a blitz specialist, that's not a bad idea at all, particularly with the losses of Means and Jernigan.  However, he needs to be able to do something else on the field other than blitz, or there is no deceptive component.  Atlanta could be a good test for this.  Set him up to blitz the A gap 3-6 times and see if he can create havoc with the blitz and/or drop to cover effectively. Line him up normally and see if he can read and execute green dog opportunities if his assignment is kept in to block.

What's the deal with 'fake' IR designations?

It's not technically legal right?

 

In theory it's not allowed, but done every year.  Every player has some small injury which can be cited as a reason to put him on the shelf.  In the case of Myers, he was out with a concussion for an extended period.

Football isn't just this season. There's a future to consider too, and if the team thinks Myers is a part of that, they'll have no problem using a roster spot on a guy that won't play a snap this year.

If they don't think there is ANY chance Myers will play in 2015, they may simply IR him and give the roster spot to Reid for the additional protection at tackle.

And don't even get me started on Kendrick Lewis...

Does anyone want to hear again that Lewis led the Texans in tackles last season after that awful performance against the Eagles? 

That's among the worst PS games I have ever seen from a starter and he packed all those bad plays (2 MTs, 1 overrun of a pass play, 1 time picked, 2 flags) into just 3 series.

He should not be immune to the "Huff treatment".

Follow me on Twitter @filmstudyravens

I want to state this a little differently than you typically will hear it said.

Renner has never taken an NFL snap with any starting NFL defender on the field.

Renner has had just a few opponents on the field while he was in who will ever play 1,000 NFL snaps defensively (slightly less than 1 full season).

He's simply not in the discussion to replace Schaub.  For that to occur, Joe would have to get hurt, Schaub would then have to implode (or get hurt), then the Ravens, after searching the waiver wire, calling Marc Bulger (slight hyperbole), etc., would have to throw up their arms and give the job to Renner to close out a difficult season.

It's happened once before with a QB that had a much more significant body of bad work at the NFL level and that was Anthony Wright.

I'm not a Schaub lover.  He lost his role as a starter because he puts his team at risk every time he throws outside the numbers.  However, he's clearly the best option if the unthinkable happens.

Follow me on Twitter @filmstudyravens

I believe the Ravens did not allow a 100-yard rusher between:

James Allen, 163 on 12/20/98 and Corey Dillon, 123 on 12/23/01, a span of 51 games, 47 of them regular season.