letitgosometimes

Bigger than the Win-Loss record, will the Ravens relax and play fun football - running through holes and cutting up field for long gains?  Will the defense set the tone for next year with multiple interceptions?  The pressure is off; execute on both sides of the football and the Ravens end the season on an up note.  Hopefully, this will be the case, albeit the Bengals have the same thought process in mind and a home field to play on.  

The Ravens players were in aggregate a little above average as depicted below:

the question is, what if a franchise player gets Hurt in a meaningless game? then ur 2017 season is ruined, so bench flacco for mallet. and let the young players play.

You nailed it. Smart thinking starts at the top.

Time to play the young guys for the last game of the season.  Expect turnover in the DB positions and D-line and O-line.  The Ravens must acquire players that fit their team signature: defense.  Six months from now the Ravens will be energized with new players and coaches to regain their signature.  

The receivers and running backs and Joe put points on the scoreboard, enough to win in Pittsburgh.  The other side of the football needs help. Next season expect more opportunities on the left side of the 50 yard line.  Keep working on pace, catch, and run in the offseason.  Take long looks at the Patriot offensive sets and patterns.  See you next year! 

Play the backups for Cincinnati and think draft.

Game 15: 10-5.  Echo: Good teams find a way to win.  The Ravens played well on the road, but just could not do the unthinkable in Pittsburgh. There is great hope for next season, but major changes are required in the wings for the Ravens to finish more games with a win. The owner of the Ravens may have words to say sooner than later on the direction of the team for next year.  

A quick review of thoughts from early August 2016, are pretty much the same sentiments now:

The Ravens have a relatively light-weight first half of season, but the second half may prove too overwhelming for the young players.  The Ravens projected win-loss record in 2016 season is a not too shabby 9-7:

In 2016, the Ravens' offense will average over 20 points a game, while their defense will average over 18 points a game.  Are playoffs in the picture? If Ravens can finish in first or second place in their division, then definitely yes.  However, if they are in third place then "Next Year". 

Go Ravens!

Letitgosometimes

Basically a "No Touch Ben day" in Pittsburgh; result was unfortunately predictable.  Overall the Ravens' chemistry was there, but too much time for Ben in the end.

Five changes for the Cincinnati game:

1. Retire all of the Ravens' DBs

2. Retire the Ravens' defensive coordinator

3. Hire an endurance coach to improve defensive and offensive linemen

4. Hire data analysts to run analytics to improve offensive play calling and defensive sets

5. Play all of the reserve players to assist in draft selections, which should be exclusively DBs, but defensive and offensive linemen are needed as well

Bonus: The Ravens had a fine season; they lost a few games they should have won and lost most the games they should have lost.  All in all, the players and fans are proud of the season.  Next year there will be significant changes in staff and defensive backs.  Expect to see the Ravens win more games.  Happy and healthy New Year wishes.

Wins are wins, but some losses are tougher than others.  No sense in pointing fingers and what-ifs; the Ravens simply came up short in a classic NFL rivalry.  The inevitable “Next year” is now official.

The Ravens' young defensive talent will get to Ben and that will be the difference in this game.  Tucker will do his thing to finish out the night. Looking to Joe to have a classic night in Pittsburgh; leading a driving offensive tempo and delivering missiles to the the receivers.

The Ravens' playoff march is in form-fit-and-function.  Expect their best game of the season with Joe finding receivers and running backs motoring across the chalk lines.  The Ravens' defense will be ripping the football away from the Steelers; Pittsburgh turnovers will catapult the Ravens to the end zone.

Ravens' defensive strategy: Ben throws more than runs: tag Ben early.  On a wet field keep their TE in check.  Play loose and attack the football.  The reason is the season!

Ravens' offensive strategy: make every yard count.  Take every point possible.

Relax - the Ravens enforce their will to a win; this is their modus operandi.

Five changes for the Steelers game:

1. Double and triple team to seal the defensive end for power sweeps, once our RBs get past the line, they can beat the LBs for 10+ yards. Steelers' DBs will be too far away from the runner while chasing Wallace and other receivers down field.  Smart "setup the run plays" are in order.

2. Hard count; repeat hard count.  This is on you Joe – the Steelers are anxious; they will make mistakes.

3. Ravens’ Offensive Coordinator (OC): call four-play sets.  Let Joe decide to go left, center, or right or in the flats; a no-huddle offense is a perfect way to wear down the Steelers’ linemen.

4. OC – please identify the green grass areas where the Steelers are NOT playing and drag the tight-end to that area.  Attack the defense with the pass and complement the pass with power sweep runs.

5. Roll Joe out or keep an extra blocking back in the backfield; Steelers will bring the heat.  Safety value receiver must run towards Joe for the football or Joe just throws it out of bounds.  No running Joe.  This is OUR first “Playoff” game - we are hungry; make no mistake about it.

Bonus: Keep the penalties to the minimum and beat the Steelers to the football every play; the results will be all purple.   Execute every play like there is no tomorrow!

Wallace: This is YOUR house, too!  Playing at 100 Art Rooney Ave, Pittsburgh, PA is nothing new to you.  The Ravens trio will dominate the smaller Steelers' DBs. Everyone in Pittsburgh knows what you can do once you get your hands on the football; there is nothing they can do about it but marvel at your Flash.  The Steelers will be playing man-to-man and that is your green light to zoom.  Expect fellow wings Perriman (Speed), and Hands (Aiken) to glide to the chains for first downs and more.  Ravens will augment the pass with the run and that will crack the Steelers' back on quick jolts by West and Dixon.  Smith Sr will box for the football to pick-up essential yards.  All receivers must take an extra step to the football, secure the football, and then turn up field.  Be sure to thank the bold Ravens' blockers on every series; all scored points start with them.  The Three Wings: Flash, Speed, and Hands will be a delight Christmas night!  

The Ravens' strategy is to execute Face Forward Football.  Here's how the Ravens win on defense: they tackle Ben at this belly, twist him, and pull him hard to the ground.  After three of these punishing tackles, Ben will start throwing early and too fast to his receivers.  Tipped-ball turnover opportunities emerge for the Ravens' wanting defensive hands. The Ravens will eat the Steelers' run game like a juicy hot steak with sauteed mushrooms and baked potato.  The Raven DBs and LBs have the scent for the football and won't stop until they capture the football.  After several turnovers the Steelers will panic whilst the Steelers in the back of their minds know they can still make the playoffs, even if they lose, but beat the Browns.  The Steelers don't want to risk injury of any of their marquee players to a relentless fighter that is fighting from the corner of the ring for his life.  The Ravens' Face Forward Football strategy is to Play Hungry, Bend Steel, come home and get ready to do it again, next week!  

The Ravens end Ben.  The Ravens are in Tier-one territory from here on out.  Expect the Ravens to outsmart the Steelers with straight-up harder-than-Steelers hitting and aggressive hustle.  The Ravens beat Pittsburgh earlier this season and recently beat the team (Eagles) that beat Pittsburgh, too.  That tells me the Ravens have an "earned momentum" going into Christmas night under the lights.  I was there two years in the cold rain and the Ravens were all business.  They took the air out of the stadium early and the fans never got back into the game.  The Ravens will repeat their actions with the same results.  Wins are wins, but against the Steelers, wins are pure purple and gold!  

The Ravens are in rock solid formation to take care of business in Pittsburgh.  Their young talented athletes have grown over the past fourteen games and the Ravens' coaches have made smart tweaks to the defensive and offensive lines.  The Ravens have been practicing all year for this showdown in Pittsburgh and they are absolutely ready to exercise their healthy strength, speed and agility on the gridiron.  The Ravens' chemistry core is found in the confidence of every player and coach.  Their confidence comes from hard work on and off the field.  The Ravens know how to beat the Steelers - the Steelers' players, coaches and fans know this sinking feeling in their stomach that the Ravens are top-performance ready and there is no stopping the Ravens again this regular season.  Bottom line: the Ravens' chemistry is dominate and thriving at just the right time!   

Game 14: 9-5. Good teams find a way to win.  Can the Ravens do the unthinkable next Sunday in Pittsburgh?

Could be a long afternoon?

A win is win even against a tier-3 team ranked 27th in the league.  The Eagles QB likes to throw the football; this will be a good game for the Ravens' defense to prepare for Ben next week.  No one is taking the Eagles lightly as they defeated the Steelers this season, but the circumstances are different now and the gridiron is tilted to team in purple - Ravens will accelerate today with a nice stocking stuffer win.  

The Ravens' strategy is to cause Eagle turnovers and find the end zone with the football in their hands.  To do that the line must blast back the Eagles middle defensive line.  The Ravens must run and pass beyond the first down markers with a rapid pace.  No dead play calling like running out of the shotgun.  This is straight-up power football based on focused execution on offense and smart attacking the football defense.  The Ravens know exactly how to win this game on the ground and in the air.  Minimize the Raven penalties and the Ravens will get to keep their big plays.  Ravens open the cage today!

Five basic changes for the Eagle's game:

1. Hook and go patterns; lots of space between the hash marks and throw to the end zone. 

2. Power running out of the I-formation; cross blocking and pull line for power sweeps.

3. Defensive must attack the football and be predictive of the young Eagles QB; take the football.

4. Eagles like to run; make it unfun by plugging the gaps and stopping the check-down screens and short passes.  This game will open-up with some long passing attempts by the Eagles, but the Ravens’ DBs are ready.

5. This is not a Tucker game, rather it is a touch down game; cross the six point line often and build momentum this for week and going into next week.

Bonus:  The Ravens move forward with a complete game on both sides of the football - it is that simple.

Feeling much better about the Ravens now and see a wholesome NFL home victory by the players, coaches, and fans.  Ravens take care of business today - the playoff march continues in full spirit!