letitgosometimes

Flash and Speed and Hands it is show time: nothing else matters but catching the football.  The game is in your hands.  Show us the paint!

The Ravens' young talent shines bright in Baltimore on this stark gray day.  The weather will not be a factor as the Ravens raise the heat in their house.  Look for a savage attack on the football by the Ravens' defense and propelling yards gained on offense.  This game is an appetizer for next week; no one wants to be in the way of famished Ravens and their fans. This is not "The City of Brotherly Love" as the Eagles will find out shortly. 

Wallace: it is back to work with sleigh rides into the endzone.  Get ready to get popped by the Eagles, but after the initial hit there will be lots of yards to gain. Expect to hear first-half hook and go routes and running plays called, but in the second half plays will open up as the Eagle LBs and DBs tire.  The Eagles season is over; they are only playing for a better draft position.  This is a gift opportunity to execute real-time pass patterns with the three wings: Wallace (Flash), Perriman (Speed), and Hands (Aikens).  A few dabs to the Ravens' TEs, but the TEs are better served practicing their blocking technique than increasing receiving stats right now.  Next week is a playoff game, make no mistake about it.  Three Wings: “If you touch the football – you must catch the football!”

The Ravens are a better team up and down the line than the Eagles.  Ravens usually win games when it counts, especially against young opponent quarterbacks, at home.  Unless the Ravens give this game away, all research indicates a Raven win this Sunday.  Next Sunday may be a different story.

Something is wrong with the upcoming Philadelphia game - can't put my finger on it, but the Eagles beat the Steelers and currently everyone is writing this game off as a win for the Ravens.  There is a bad vibe in the air.  This might be the end of the season for the Ravens, but I hope not.  

Day dreaming.

Game 13: 8-5. The Ravens are fine tuning - lots of positives from NE game.  The coaching staff will recalibrate for Eagles game. 

Wallace: you deserve a raise - look at your positive impact on the Ravens' receivers in the locker room, on the drawing board, and on the turf. You are clearly moving this team forward.  Now for the Patriots game - do your Flash thing deep a few times, but mostly this game will be about low risk quick hits and comebacks to Joe. Joes needs all receivers to step to the football and reduce the math of the football in flight.  Play action pass will be teed-up by the many run plays executed by the Ravens bold offensive line and hard-nosed running backs. Keep clearing the DBs deep and the underneath game opens up nicely.  Patriots do not have an answer for Flash, Speed and Hands.  Hands should have quite a few opportunities for first downs with you and Speed mid to deep down field.  Lastly, tell your fellow receivers to catch first, secure the football and then run. The Patriots live for turnovers and will be punching the football at every chance.  If the LBs are blitzing; you must run toward Joe. He will find your hands with the football and then turn up field.  The Patriots defense will wear down the second-half with steady Ravens’ first downs and Tucker points.  When you or Speed or Hands take the leather to the end-zone results in double bonus: sweet six and you can “make our hands clap!”

The Ravens' strategy is a little more complex this week: yes - huddle, slow down the game.  Control the clock and take the three's.  The Patriots' pulse is they want to win this game; expect LBs in the Ravens' backfield draping on Joe which is a golden opportunity for Joe to have long snap counts, power sweeps and counters.  Joe needs to throw to the areas where the LBs are blitzing.  Minimize Joe's rollouts; throw darts and power running.  Play this game for Tucker - meaning the goal is to get the leather to the 35 yard line of the Patriots every series.  Good things happen from there to include an unexpected Tucker pass.    Pat down the Pats with swipes at their game thinking, on their fog horn turf with Ravens' classic coaching style!

A win against a Tier-one team win would be very nice, and would help stoke the fire in the playoff march, however the Patriots are not the Dolphins and will not be on their defensive heels; the Ravens must play "Line Forward" football and strictly augment the offense with the pass. Joe should be throwing less than 40 passes against a Tier-one team to receivers in motion, or he will be playing into their hands with three and outs and minimal clock usage.  Have the lead going into half-time and you beat the Patriots, otherwise it may be a long bus ride home.  

Five basic changes for Patriot's game:

1. Double slot receivers - quick hit picks - halfback screens 

2. Power running straight ahead, especially on passing downs

3. Defensive backs must be so close to the Patriot's receivers, they can smell the receivers breath; the last time the Raven's DBs played in Foxborough they played so far off the Patriot receivers they could not even see the Patriot receivers' jersey numbers!  Giving up a 14 point lead twice!

4. Brady likes to double screens and quick hits; no need for the Ravens' LBs to guard against the run; crash the backfield and knock down anybody with the football

5. Weather will not be a factor; stay mentally focused - keep Steve Smith from getting unnecessary penalties; Tucker could pull this game out?

Bonus:  The Ravens are definitely on an upward vector and will continue this elevated direction regardless of outcome; no injuries to Joe - meaning no running Joe and NO sliding.  This game is purely about blocking and staying injury free.  Bigger things are in play in a couple of weeks.  

Monday's game against the Patriots is not a must win - in fact it doesn't matter if the Ravens win or lose.  Next week's game at home will be a win against the Eagles, but the BIG game is Christmas late afternoon in Pittsburgh.  Typically a team takes one game at a time, and Ravens take this approach normally, but there is no sense in either team risking top players for a "it doesn't matter outcome" game.  Expect status quo football for most of the game and maybe a touchdown or two, but not much more.  In the end the home team wins, but in the playoffs, the Patriots will face a more intense Ravens team.  The Ravens' cage door will be unlocked for the playoffs and starting with the Pittsburgh game. 

Talent wise the Ravens have improved their experience on both sides of the football, but soon face a missile thrower like no other. The young Raven DBs will feel the heat coming their way often; they are not developed enough to handle the pressure.  Specifically, Patriots will exploit Jerraud Powers by converting third downs with ease.  Talent on the Ravens may keep this Prime Time game close, but in the end it will come down to desire.  Do the Ravens have the talent to win?  Yes.  Do they have the will to win?  The answer will be revealed Monday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.   

Game 12: 7-5. The momentum stayed on Ravens' side all day due to smart football on both sides of the football.  

Five last minute changes:

1. Use motion to free up your receivers

2. Use hard count

3. Strong box on defense; Miami likes to attack center of field 

4. If Miami rolls right, be sure to keep screen left in check; expect lots of screens

5. Miami knows how important this game is to them; Ravens must strive to win every play with smart football and quick recovery.

Bonus:  Get on the early; make the fish swim upstream!

Ravens are on track for a projected 9-7 season, but can they exceed expectations?  In the stock market world analysts use the term "Animal" for gut feeling.  My animal feeling is the Ravens eat fish today and continue to march forward to 9-7 record or possibly better season.  One game at a time - no need to borrow worry about next games.  Only the moments made on the gridiron today in front of a sellout home crowd matters.

Chemistry is based on being in sync with other teammates; think and do no mental errors.  Chemistry makes first downs through focus and execution.  Sustainable momentum is the byproduct of great chemistry.

Strategy for Ravens this afternoon in Baltimore is defined in one word: Push.

Expect the Ravens' offensive line to push the Dolphins' defensive line back, specifically the point of attack between the tackles an tight ends, and sweeps.  

Wallace: This is your game.  If the offensive coordinator starts calling run plays out of the shotgun tell Joe "find my hands; I will get the first down".  The Ravens' coaches will be happy with results.  Joe will be happy to send a dart your way as well the offensive line.  Your receiver mates must keep up the pace on your pattern cuts.  Miami DBs are not able to stay up with Raven receivers.

Ravens win if they tackle between the knees and ankles thus reducing third down Miami conversions. Expect Ravens to have a fish fry day.

The Ravens would be wise not to let Miami jump out to a fast start.  The Ravens' defense needs to tag Miami's quarterback early.  Expect quick passes and quick bursts from the Dolphins.  The Ravens are projected to win this game, but it will not be easy.  Expect the three-T's to go Ravens way: Turnovers, Touchdowns, and Tucker-Touches.  Joe will deliver the leather lunches on time.    

Wallace:  Check-talk Perriman; we need him to come up big this game.  Aikens will be open underneath the LBs; we need you and Perriman to drill the deep and intermediate patterns for first downs and more.  It is time to rip the football from the air to capture and keep momentum. Light-up the scoreboard with flash!

The Ravens' strategy is simple: no huddle, four-play sets.  There are soft spots in the Miami defense; beat the LBs and there will be big gains on the ground and in the air.  The Ravens' coaches must clean up the mental penalties - do not give Miami second chances.  Lastly, keep a running back in the backfield to give Joe an extra half-second to pass.  Expect heavy pressure up the middle; run outside tackles.

Ravens must put points on the scoreboard every quarter to win Sunday.  This game will determine which team moves forward for playoff contention. The Dolphins are a Tier-one team and they are famished for a win; make no mistake about the first snap the Dolphins want this game.  Tucker and company will shut the door late in the game to secure the Ravens' victory.