letitgosometimes

Game 9: 6-3. The Ravens clobbered Cleveland in solid fashion. Kudos to the Ravens' swarming defense - we are seeing vintage Ravens' signature on defense! The offensive linemen are making holes and the backs are smashing through. The Ravens' offensive coordinator still doesn't get that running out of the shotgun is a wasted play with little positive gains. The Ravens are more effective running out of the I-formation and passing out of the I-formation by having two backs protecting Joe. No one is worried about Joe's interception; rather the focus should be on the play calling from the booth. Ravens' booth must select plays based on what the defense gives you, or they will continue to be Pete Carroll wannabes in the red zone.

The Ravens' strategy is to play situational football. Take what the Browns give them and exploit it. The Ravens will practice screens, runs between the tackles, and play action passes. Most importantly, they will emphasis focus on the game; no mental mistakes. The Browns are playing loose football and that is a dangerous team. Ravens must stay tight for 60 minutes and keep doing the plays that work until the Browns can stop them. Run a ton, hit to knock out the lights on defense and drive the ball to the endzone frequently.

More than winning is how you win. A smart played game on both sides of ball is needed. The Browns hit; the Ravens hit harder. Expect turnovers to make a short field for the offense to roll across the goal line. Every win is a step forward.

Five things for tonight: 1. Fake punt 2. Reverse with wide-out in motion 3. Joe calls at least half the game from the line; need this experience for Tier-1 team opponents 4. Tape up the offense linemen's hands; no holding penalties need to be a priority going forward 5. Safety blitzes on first down; go heavy early; shake the QB cause turnovers

Wallace: the focus will be on running against the Browns, the football will come to you with running backs out of the eye formation, play action deep right side. Tonight is about offensive timing; not expecting you to have more than four-five catches. A Flash TD is certainly possible and welcome!

The Ravens are feeling the chemistry team-wide. This is just the time for a mid-season scrimmage to practice the no huddle and to have Joe guide the team up the field based on the defense he sees in front of him. The offensive unit will improve its execution, but must focus efforts between the Tackles for gap blocking and the timing of running backs hitting the holes for 4-7 yard gains. This game will be about improving the chemistry triangle between Tackles and Tailbacks.

Fine tuning the blocking assignments must continue each game. Basic philosophy: protect the QB to the maximum. Impressive was the Ravens' punting game with little or no returns possible and receiving team with smart fair catch decisions. Thursday's game is an excellent opportunity to showcase the O-line with augmented blocking by running backs and motioned in TEs. Get the blocking schemes solid and the Ravens dash to the playoffs. Today was a mid-season playoff victory based on changes made by the players and coaches over the past two weeks. The competition thickens after the Cleveland game while the time to make changes is shortened.

Ravens' strategy was Tier-1 today - congratulation! Tier-1 is the level fans have grown accustomed to seeing over the years. However, there are still dead offensive plays being called from the booth, like handing off to the running back from the shotgun formation, and leaving Joe with an empty backfield in the shotgun. Think about it: why tell the defense you are going to pass the football before the play? You've just lost 50 percent of the offensive attack. In reviewing the films, note the positive run yardage gained out of the I-formation versus the shotgun formation. The Ravens were effective while taking snaps behind the center. Bottom line: It was a Raven Signature Day - Perfectly Purple!

Game 8: 5-3. The Ravens made Baltimore proud today - bending Steel on the gridiron! A coffee break game is coming up on Thursday night, but do not take Cleveland lightly, they are competitive.

Wallace: You nailed it today! Your leadership is revving up the Ravens. Congratulations on setting the Ravens' longest reception for a TD record, but more importantly now the world knows why you're called "Flash"!

A Tier-1 win is huge for the Ravens. Most impressive was the "never let up" efforts on both sides of the football. A win is a win, but a win against the Steelers for first place is nothing short of outstanding!

In the words of the late Chuck Thompson: "Ain't the beer cold!"

A WIN against the Steelers today is a playoff victory.

A WIN against the Steelers today is a playoff victory.

Chemistry is what chemistry does - find it and do it. Everyone in the NFL expects the Ravens to win today; the players must make the integration happen with smart football, execution, and penalty-free play. Baltimore shines this afternoon with the right chemistry - slam home first place!

Wallace: 14-yard slants are there all day. Setup the slant and go to a porous Steeler defense and it will be "Show Time!" Expect a big day - be the football!

Game time shortly, here are the latest five proposed changes: 1. Two tight-end formations, two backs out of the I-formation; protect the QB at all costs 2. More QB snaps from under center to enable play-action passes and effective draws (shotgun hand-offs to running backs are too slow) 3. Wildcat short yardage to beef up the blocking power 4. Double blitz; drop a lineman back in short coverage 5. Have the offensive linemen set closer to each other - too much gap for Steelers to easily blitz Bonus: Fast start - Fast finish.

The Ravens must find a "match" to light a fire in the offense. If a player is not one hundred per cent healthy, he is better on the sidelines. The Ravens are at the nail biting stage of the season and need a solid quarterback to lead the offense. If Joe is a go, great, if not, Mallett has beaten the Steelers and can do it again. The bottom line: everyone is replaceable; the team must move forward with their best talent available.

In stride and with pride - Joe needs to throw the leather on target. When Joe's timing is on, he is gold.

Spot on MPB!

Harbs: Have all the players spell "Chemistry" before the game; they have synergy to prove on the gridiron. Focus on swarming the football, blocking through opponents and playing smart penalty-free football. Gain the momentum with team “pick-me-up” football. Use the no-huddle offense to galvanize a two-minute game mentality. Birds of feather stick together; it is time to fly in syncopated formation – with each player benefiting from another.

Wallace: Two touchdown pay day coming your way. Steelers may know your face, but it is your back they will remember most after Sunday's game. Catch everything that comes your way; demand the football. Light up the house! Ravens' vibe starts with you - get the purple blood flowing in Baltimore. It is Flash Time!

Tier-1 time: the Ravens must make every play a "Win" and aggregate these wins into victory. Especially between the ears the Ravens must "Win" with the cleanest game of their season. Hammer time, no sense in holding back plays. The Steelers know what is on the line - they would love to make the home team "Purple Peeps", but that is not going to happen. Steelers dread playing the Ravens and look to take advantage of any Ravens' weaknesses. A Win is a Win, but against the Steelers - it is everything.

Defensive strategy: The D needs to recover/intercept the football three or more times; shut down the quick hits to the wide-outs and pop the football. Touch Ben every play; he doesn't like to be touched. Offensive strategy: take more snaps from center than shotgun formation; gang block; get the football quickly down field on passes and play-action on intermediate range passes; run from the I-formation. Coaching strategy: Call attacking plays, no dead plays or offensive sets that reveal the play before the snap; do better in the booth; call pass plays to the areas that are green and between the hash marks and side-lines. Ravens All: Do you remember not long ago playing the Steelers in the rain at Pittsburgh during the playoffs? It was a complete sixty minute Ravens’ effort. That was truly a great victory; rekindle that strategy and you will bend steel in Baltimore!

Sunday's game is a Mid-Season Playoff game for the Steelers and the Ravens. A foothold on first place in the AFC North welcomes the winners, while a deep dark chasm engulfs the defeated. Will the Ravens step up or fall down? Only Tucker-Time will tell.