5aiah

On 8/3/2016 at 10:17 PM, JO_75 said:

Ratings don't matter this year as much as they used to. Since EA has brought back Player Editing within Franchise, this is not that big of a deal. Plus... you can always edit the ratings before going into Franchise so... who cares?

Actually some people might be in competitive online simulation leagues where editing the ratings isn't allowed. I'm grateful for this roster considering what a nightmare it was last year to have to play with 83 speed 83 route running Smitty, because we started well before they raised him up to respectable levels. Nothing can be worse than last years starting roster. 

On 8/3/2016 at 8:21 AM, rmw10 said:

Some really dumb ones.  Brandon Williams and Tucker (even with some struggles) are far too low.

I'll never understand how someone like Perriman goes down in rating without playing a down.  Shouldn't he be the same as last year or at least close?  "Ahhh, he got hurt and put up no stats.  70 it is."  There better be good potential growth there.

Perriman only went down in speed and acceleration if i recall correctly. That's because he didn't play a down in the league yet and has injured his knee twice. If it was an arm injury twice, they probably wouldn't have lowered his speed and acceleration. I think we were lucky he was that high anyway considering some of the scouting reports claimed he plays a lot slower than his 40 speed, on the field in pads. Nevertheless i will be using him as a major decoy to clear things out for everyone else. 

Turbo button <----- Don't use it!!!!

 

And by don't use it, I mean really REALLY stay away from it as much as possible. I ran up 178 yards last game. It was the first time I ran for over 100 yards. Controlled the game.

 

Best advice I could give you, I actually used the regular Ravens Offensive playbook for this one and ran straight up the middle depending on the positions of the nose tackles...

Yep, its confirmed, turbo button causes defenders to shed blockers quickly, making it more of a magnet button. Not to be used anywhere but in the open field away from engaged blockers.

First patch is out, how do you guys feel? Also the week one rosters are out Friday, in which I wonder if EA really thought this whole cut system out. They do weekly roster updates each week, the rosters are cut to 53. Why on earth is Player Cuts an option in year one of CFM? Things that they do(they being EA Sports) just confuse me and I can never understand why they don't think things through.

 

Apparently from what I'm reading the all new drive goals they implemented this year, along with the Confidence trait "broke" Franchise Mode this year. Like it has ruined it from what I'm reading. Now the drive goals to me didn't make any sense, the goal of every drive is to put up points. That doesn't change throughout the game. Confidence trait to me we can do without, it's not necessary. I get why they implemented it but it's really not needed. 

EA is an inept company when it comes to making a quality product. They have a monopoly on the league and thus don't care to make the game good for it's entire community. The things that are not so messed up are the money makers like MUT where micro transactions make extra money on top of the cost of the game. EA sports has shown a dedication to breaking the game just so they can "fix" it at a later time and use said "fix" as a selling point or proof of innovation. 

On the other hand, Madden users complain about the stupidest things and give EA ammo to break the game over and over. XP was fine when you had to practice for it. People complained that 2000 XP a week was too much and too easy, so EA killed it. But whose fault is it that they used the XP to quickly boost their players in unreal fashion? The gamers. Now all EA had to do was to keep the 2000 XP a week and make it so that it was automatically used for awareness, play rec(for defense), stamina, and perhaps toughness. They could also have the game prep to target specific players and skills of the gamer's choosing, on top of practice.

How do I feel? I feel like I am getting shafted. Just like living under the "one party" rule here in Baltimore, when one group holds the power and doesn't have your best interests at heart, you get shafted.  

i haven't tried starting Waller, I use Smith, Perriman, and Brown. I'm going to try it this way. I ran the tutuorials and it opened my up to some running techniques I sort of forgot about.

 

I run on PS4 as well, so I'll gladly take a look at your playbook. I had alot of success going into the shotgun and kiiling people with that.

 

He just refused to adjust and paid the price lol.

 

I recently used the Texans Offensive playbook and liked it, Dolphins playbook while limited with I-Formation is FILLED with over 20 shotgun formations. For now it's something that I will have to capitilize on that until I figure the run game out better.

 

Again, he runs with the Dolphins and between Suh and Wake I find rare success running the ball on the Strong side which is annoying because we have an incredible O-line.

 

The trench fighting I realized is very sensative this year and running tutorials and guantlet* games helped me realize how to take advantage of Justin F

Well Waller has so much upside and I'm hoping he makes the final roster because we are waiting until after the major update to start the league. I'm practicing with Waller and Maxx over Marlon and Pitta because I want to start developing them as soon as possible. I want to trade Pitta for a corner back or a FS, to be honest. 

I'm going to have to get used to running out of shotgun, sometimes just to open things up. 

Playing the dolphins defensive front is good competition. The entire AFC East really. I also find that our line doesn't play to their ratings, but I wonder if it's because the strength is in the core of the line and it's easy to clog that up even with bums on the other side. This is why either shotgun is needed or plays where KO,Zuttah, and Yanda either break off and get to the second level while someone else trap blocks the man they release, or they kick out and pull. That's why I'm trying to put together a playbook that focuses on the offensive line and using them as weapons. Madden isn't realistic or complex enough in regards to line play so we have to get creative to get the most out of them.

I've done really well in terms of running in open space but I need to focus more on running in between the tackles. I do the "make yourself small" move and I cut back into the middle well sometimes but for the most part when a good player with a good team just sticks people in the middle they automatically seem to negate how great the core three should be. I will continue to refine my movements in the trenches and work on reading who will get off their blocks.  

Update, I played a couple of more games against my friend who loads to the box. He knows I'm going to run lol. I switched to shotgun and ran up and down the field with short passes over his LB's. 31-0 lmao.

 

However, when I try to force the issue I can not get any seperation from his DE's let alone run up the middle. He uses the Dolphins and running is close to impossible.

 

I'm going into practice mode and checking out the changes they made this year, I usually try to just feel out the game before I start going through the tutorials

Ok so today I had my first game over 100 with Forsett, it was vs the Saints though so I'm not impressed though. I made a offensive playbook for the Ravens slightly based on their default one, it's called "NURAVEN" and it has some of the game planning done so you get plays automatically for the situation if you want them. Im playing vs really goo comeptition in a very comeptitve league, and they know not to mess around with the Ravens on the ground so they stack the box too. The only way to get them to back off of throwing the kitchen sink at 2wr 2te sets is to succeed at throwing to the TEs in a manner that requires them to take a lineman or linebacker off the field to defend it ala Patriots. I've done this by adding the empty patriot set and focusing on TE trips/slot sets. This makes it so they just cant come out in 34 bear or 46 when they see your personnel. The best way to go is deception.

Getting the HB out of the backfield on auto motion plays helps a lot as well. I've taken plenty from the Houston Texans and Chicago bears, given their history with our recent coordinators. "Texan Ins" is one of my favorites to start a drive off when they are expecting the run.

Also, we have to use shotgun just like you did, especially the inside zone and wide/5-6 traps out of shotgun. Like I mentioned the Pats have some good stuff I put in the custom book and I got some things from Kubiak and Trestman's books.

Try using Bears under and Bears Z under, two really good plays with a double move/speed style in route that Perriman crushes with. Smitty also does really well with it after getting the ball because it plays into his RAC trait and mentality and he frequently trucks and fights for yards after.

For the people using the chiefs and broncos or other playbooks, could you maybe take a look at my custom playbook and add stuff if you are on Ps4? If not could you just explain what your favorite plays, sets, and mini schemes are from those books that really work well with the Ravens personnel? It would be really appreciated. There is plenty of stuff out there for fans of other teams, I just want something nice to use with Baltimore. 

Edit: I should mention that I am starting Smitty, Perriman, and Waller at receiver. 

Are the hard cuts back? Because without that, running is nearly impossible

Forsett can do them. You need 90+ elusiveness to do them or 90+ juke for the double juke/shake,Forsett has both. I still haven't gotten to 100 yards yet(with Forsett) but everyone I play mentions how much they have to focus on stopping him. One guy complained that they "overrated Forsett so much he plays like Barry Sanders". I do the hard cut backs really well, my problem is that it's harder to get outside with Wagner and Monroe letting guys go free and Yanda,KO,and Zuttah not playing up to their ratings vs good competition so when I go to cut back the middle isn't very clear. 

I have not had the time to really play the game yet to tell you, but I meant the Broncos. Very similar to last year but I feel like it

lacks running plays.

 

I've had issues running the ball with Justin this year, I've played a total of 6 games already against my friends. My biggest runs come from Lorenzo, he is much slower but I can run between the tackles much better. No matter what I've done so far I have issues like you running up the middle.

 

I'll figure something out and let you know

Ok this is great to hear, it's not just me. Lorenzo and Buck are doing well for me in between the tackles. Forsett does some legendary stuff breaking tackles in open space but in the trenches he doesn't do enough to take advantage of the biggest strength on the entire team. This is why I'm hoping to put together a modified Ravens book that takes advantage of the balance and versatility of the line. Sure, Monroe and Wagner's 75 and 80 run blocking pale in comparison to the big three, but their impact blocking is just as high as the others. I think the key to dominating with this line is to make sure no one can just stack the box with 34 bear or similar formations. We have to be able to do major damage running outside and throwing screens by utilizing the 85+ impact block that everyone on the line has.

I agree, I used Kubiak Offensive playbook and did much better on the ground.

I have taken stuff from the Houston book, when you say Kubiak do you mean Denver Broncos? There is very stiff competition in my current league and I've rarely gotten to 100 yards rushing with Forsett. I make good cuts and reads and I understand how much more complex running is this year, but it still seems that too many people are able to stop me from running inside when I have a 94,92,and 99 run blocking LG,C,and RG respectively. 

I'm a fan of the Chiefs on off. Run with Ravens on def.

Are the chiefs good for the Ravens passing wise? I've started with the base Ravens O book and taken from Houston(Kubiak or what's left of his influence) and Chicago(for Trestman) to try to piece together a nice book. What exactly do you like about the Chiefs book? I know that its been one of the first zone run books in Madden, but otherwise I haven't looked it over much. 

The Ravens playbooks(on offense) are always so boring and ineffective. I'm in a sim style league with Baltimore and custom books are allowed(though critiqued heavily). Is anyone here interested in helping create realistic and effective Offensive and Defensive playbooks? I was wondering if anyone else would appreciate that and help add plays and schemes that we see the Ravens use in real life. The more hardcore fans we have contributing, the better the books will be. 

Boldin did a lot more than grab some spectacular balls.   He was a beast @ blocking assignment.   I'd say he was better than Dickson/Pitta when it came to blocking.

Are you kidding? Who wouldn't say that? Those guys might be TEs but they are both terrible blockers and I can name several receivers better than both of them. I agree that I want a strong physical possession receiver who can block well but if Jacoby leaves I can see Ozzie going to Marquise Lee.

Pitta has the surest hands on the Team. And he's a baller.  It would be foolish not to keep him as long as he is healthy.

And runs the best routes of any receiver.

Note to Moderator: Great post, but I don't know how much 'fact' fans are capable of. "Passion faults 'facts' and inspires myths."

Good luck with this. I'll try to add more facts, but I must admit - I'm too passionate at times.

 

Great post without a doubt. It's got me thinking.

That's the point of this thread. We can all check the "facts" and call out what is opinion and gain knowledge on our team in the process. I think the thread is great for Ravens Nation.

no but apparently I do cause its obvious you did not read the topic of this thread or  what my post referred to . the myth on these boards is that flacco's contract is the reason we lost boldin and the reason we had a bad year because we can't pay for talent.   as for your opinion I'm not interested this thread is debunking myth with fact. your opinion is not needed facts only

Thank you, can we stay on topic, this thread has huge potential.

Myth: Dennis Pitta is a must sign, indispensable security blanket, outstanding TE.

 

Fact1: Dennis Pitta is along with the other Ravens of 2012 had a magical run to the Super Bowl and is a good friend of Joe Flacco.

 

Face2: Performance: in 2010 behind Todd Heap, 1 catch for 1 yard; in 2011, 40 catches for 405 yards and three touchdowns; in 2012, 61 catches, 669 yards, 7 TDs; 2013 IR (mostly).

 

Fact3: Dennis Pitta is an average TE, recovering from a serious injury and is replaceable.

He is a good TE. Great route runner and hands for a TE and has undeniable chemistry with Flacco. Is he replaceable in the Air Coryell system without another two possession receivers(one a TE the other a slot receiver) in place, no. Great route runners don't grow on trees. I don't think he is a must sign if Flacco already has other weapons in place but i highly doubt the FO can give him that just this year.

I guess you can make that argument, but I felt like every stop our D made was big because we were constantly playing from behind this year. Our D definitely stepped up when it counted in the postseason last year, but they were a sieve in the regular season.

This is true. You have to take that into account when looking ta the defense. People talk of how the defense let us down late in crucial situations but they were all crucial situations because of how bad the offense played all game.

Myth: Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, and Marlon Brown form an above average group of receivers.

 

Fact: I can name a receiver from every team who is better than Torrey. (Yes these names are debatable, I'm just trying to make a point)

 

AFCE: Mike Wallace, Jeremy Kerley, Stevie Johnson, Danny Amendola

AFCN: AJ Green, Antonio Brown, Josh Gordon

AFCS: Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Nate Washington, Justin Blackmon

AFCW: Demarius Thomas, Dwayne Bowe, Denarius Moore

 

NFCE: Victor Cruz, Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Dez Bryant

NFCN: Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall

NFCS: Julio Jones, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Vincent Jackson

NFCW: Golden Tate, Michael Crabtree, Larry Fitzgerald, Tavon Austin

 

I like our guys, but let's be honest. There's a LOT of overlooked talent on the other 31 teams. Tandon Doss did not make Green Bay's roster, and I think he's actually our 2nd best receiver. Add a true #1 WR to our group and THEN we have a nice cast.

Wow about time someone looked at it objectively. Our receiving corps has been overrated for far too long. You're 90% right on that list btw.

You are acting like they were looking to implement a system for the long run and not to even try to win this year. Thats probably the biggest myth we are going to see in this thread. They made lots of moves to win this year. Lots of short term signings and trades. Ate up virtually all the cap room. There was no plan to tank this year and fine tune things in the offseason. that's absurd. Castillo was brought in to tweak things with given set of personnel, not to create a system that would dictate ho would be the personnel going forward. Your logic makes sense if the system was broken, but not if the team just won a SuperBowl..

I didn't say they weren't looking to win.That's a Strawman. I said they were looking to install a system for the long run and when the talent couldn't deliver we couldn't fall back on our usual power run because of the same talent. We were caught in between and it helped cost us the season. Also the system wasn't necessarily broke but it wasn't exactly desirable going forward either. That's why the change was made in the first place. I think the coaching staff believed even if everything went wrong and we couldn't execute we would still make the wildcard and win 9 to 10 games.

The problem in your theory is that you seem to think part of the job of an o-line Coach isn't to create schemes that work with the personnel he is given. If the personnel couldn't run a ZBS scheme effectively you don't just shrug your shoulders and keep running it, you go back to the drawing board and figure out something that works better. He didn't, and that makes it his fault. No myth there.

If you have enough players on the line currently and more players down the road who can run it well, yes you do keep running it and get rid of the guys who can't do it, in the off season. It had to be installed sooner or later, lets get it over with now, and we did. Castillo was brought in to do a job the higher ups asked him to and he moved us toward that goal. If anything this is on Harbs for sticking with this all the way. Its his call, not Castillo's. It's not easy for Ravens fans to blame Harbs though is it?

I disagree with this and there is allot of evidence to the contrary . we have used zone stretch plays in the past . Inside zone blocking is what the players failed to execute, Rice/Pierce up the middle loss of gain of 1 yard. the changes Juan made directly caused the run game and pass protection failures this year. this is not a myth

He was brought in to make the changes, and the guys who brought him in knew the pros and cons. We didn't have the talent to make it work nor the talent to fall back on our normal power run. That isn't on one guy.

Subtitle: wide-spread erroneous beliefs.

Saw something in another thread earlier that I know to be widely believed, but untrue, got me thinking about starting this thread. Every day we see things in the forums that are just not true. I'll start with one that chaps me and I hope you will contribute more. Maybe we can fight ignorance together.

I think you just started a thread that will be up until the end of time.

Myth 2: Run game issues lie on Castillo

 

Personnel is why we sucked this year. Oher has never been good since his rookie year, Gino was unproven but apparently admired by the FO, and KO got injured.  Even Yanda had struggles earlier in the year because of his rotator cuff.

 

Castillo's scheme worked with the Eagles and ZBS has worked wonders with the Texans. We've used the ZBS scheme in the past as well. Castillo, in fact, added wrinkles to help. The guy was such a good O-Line coach, the eagles thought he could coach defense. 

 

Look at the PFF grades, you can't run the ball if three starters are in double negatives.  Castillo was an undeserving scapegoat. 

I concur. Also, speaking of scapegoats, Cam Cameron was a scapegoat and the play calling(despite what people try to show you in charts) wasn't too big of a change and would have gone in that direction, regardless of who was calling the plays, with the line solidification.

2. Bernard Pierce can replace Ray Rice because he has the more physical running style. Ray Rice has always been our durable workhorse even though he has been at his best when he shares the load with other backs. Bernard will never make it through one season alone or with another back without a number of injuries.

3. Ed Dickson is a blocking Tight End. He can't block worth crap and is one of the worst starting TEs when it comes to blocking.

What an excellent idea for a thread. 

1. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were solely responsible(with their on field coordinating tactics) for the success of our "bend but don't break" defense and it wouldn't be the same without them. It's been better this year.

2. Flacco had one of the best deep balls(in the entire league) in the past 5 years. His accuracy had been way off and on during the regular season but his performance during the run only served to help perpetuate this myth.

3. The Zone blocking scheme is some new to the Ravens. We have been successful at using the more fullback oriented zone blocking ever since Leach came.

He did that a lot earlier in the season. Marlon started off as an outside WR and Joe tried to force him the ball quite a few times with the thought that he could use his size to come down with some. I don't think he caught one. Eventually, Brown was moved almost exclusively into the slot because he couldnt get open on the outside.

 

I think the moral of the story is we need help at WR. Torrey is a good WR, but he has limitations. Brown is a great RZ threat and decent out of the slot, but he struggles to get open against man coverage. I hope he builds on this season. 

That was the story of our offense. We need a good possession receiver because Marlon Brown isn't that. Also, yes he has to build on this season and get stronger and physical enough to beat man press coverage. For his height he is an absolute softy out there. He isn't in the slot to capitalize on his route running ability(like other great big slot receivers ex. Brandon Marshall) but to get him free from the press which limits what we can do on offense, like sending Jacoby and Torrey mainly on deep routes.

Because our WRs have shown they can make plays on contested balls...

I think the offense should be a power offense as well, but Harb's has been running a ZBS since he got here. Our O-line is smaller and athletic, which is what ZBS requires. If we wanted to run power, we'd have to change a lot of personnel up front to really have the ideal bodies there. (Think 2004 Ravens with JO, Bennie Anderson, Edwin Mulitalo, Orlando Brown) However since this change over looks likely, this might be just the time to do that. The drawback is that those road grater type of guys tend to not be as good at pass protection. Seeing as how that was terrible this year already, might not be too much of a risk.

 

Kubiak would be good for the current personnel and would add some movement to an otherwise static philosophy at QB. Flacco would be running more bootlegs and using play action, which I think suits him quite well. (think about when he rolled out last year in the playoffs...he was money). 

 

I would also like seeing Hue Jackson back in bmore. He's got an intensity and attitude that carries down to the players. He already has relationship with Joe, since he was his QB coach and he's likely got a chip on his shoulder after losing the Oakland job. Another bonus with Hue is that he's been helping game plan against the AFC north in the recent past. 

 

I wouldn't mind Norv Turner either, since he likes to air it out deep (which is Flacco's best asset), but I think his scheme would be too similar to Cam's since they both come from the Air Coryell background.

Omg thank you. Norv Turner would be the ideal candidate to the Ravens higher ups because he fits the bill of what they already want to do. But he would just end up another casualty if we don't have the talent to run the system like this year.

Gabe, I hear cats in here like yourself always say that WRs can't get open.  I disagree to a degree.  Sure there have been multiple times when they were just jammed and locked up.  And yet, on yesterday, I saw a few open and Joe failed to notice them.  One on play Doss was running across the middle of the field with at least 3-4 steps in front of his defender.  If Joe hits him in stride he could have pick up the 1st down and a few yards after the catch. 

 

Then there is Jacoby who got open on that corner route in the end zone.  Joe overthrows him on that play!  Then, Pierce was running across the middle of the field near the end zone again...wide open!  If Flacco hits him there it could have been a TD but he was so focused and locked onto Pitta that he didn't see him.  Maybe, our WRs are getting open "at times" and Joe is just not making the proper reads or quickly going through his progression to capitalize on it?  As that thought ever crossed your mind?

 

#Mili

No because Flacco is perfect when it comes to going through reads. He goes through them as quick as possible and never misses an open man. His awareness is top notch. He is a true field general and has the vision to throw receivers open. If he didn't throw it to an open man its because he knew they weren't going to catch the ball. Flacco is the total package already, he can do it all.

    I agree I think we had enough talent on offense to help out Joe Flacco a lot more but the play calling just wasn't creative enough . Caldwell did a good job last year  but I think its obvious that he should be the quarterback coach only and  a new offensive coordinator should be hired. I know the receivers the ravens  have aren't great route runners but you don't  always need a great route runner in order to have a creative passing attack or for the offensive coordinator to think out side of the box . 

 

    Even if we draft or sign better talent  to help out the offense I don't really expect much change because right now we have a offense that's just not smart enough and that starts with the coaches .

Accept we didn't. Given the lack of talent on the line, any creativity in the passing game would have been limited in how much it could help Flacco because the run game was so dysmal.  

It's true that Caldwell was dealt a losing hand. Terrible OL play and very limited weapons at WR will handicap any OC. I think a more creative OC could have done better, but if I had to choose between a new OC and new players on offense I would take the latter.

I concur.

Well one of the things that changed when Trestman came in was a complete revamping of the OL in Chicago. They essentially replaced 4 starters and it made a huge difference. Not sure an OC would have the same kind of sway, but its certainly conceivable that a candidate can come in and say "this is what needs to be fixed." I do think this is an attractive job because like I said before, the Ravens are a well run and successful team. Turning around the offense could be viewed as a springboard for future HC positions.

Agree to disagree, though I hope you are right, history points in the opposite direction. But back to the point, i really do hope we either give Caldwell another shot with another offseason(and a chance at some actual talent on offense) under his belt or find a great offensive mind and just not fire yet another OC as a scapegoat and bring in more of the same. With Jacoby possibly leaving and DT not panning out this could be the time to move to another system but we would need a lot more talent at receiver to do so.