letitgosometimes

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.

8 hours ago, letitgosometimes said:

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! 

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.  

35 minutes ago, KBoum said:

Is this dude serious ? Sorry I've been out of the boards for quite some time this is kinda funny

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.

1 hour ago, ravensnj said:

We need to pick up the offensive pace. Run faster routes, and have Flacco hit the receiver in stride. Hopefully, past the first down marker. Waiting in the pocket every down to throw a bomb is killing us. Where's the bootleg? 

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

9 hours ago, Maryland said:

In watching Ryan hook up with Julio on timed routes so reliably, it reinforces in my mind just how important it is for the QB and WRs to build chemistry. That's what you lose when Perriman doesn't have the preseason to practice with Joe. Hopefully more time together will get Perriman going. 

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. 

1. Offensive line: four point stance for better balance and power against thrashing Steelers' rush.

2. QB takes 50% snaps from behind center (versus shotgun) to allow more options (run, pass, play action).

3. Two tight end formations, release one for pass plays, otherwise utilize two TE blocking scheme.

4. Execute a reverse on a kickoff, a punt return, or an offensive snap - stay unpredictable on offense.

5. Defense must pop the receiver or runner at the point of football - the Steelers fumble if they get hit at or near the football.

Bonus: Ravens’ coaches must make decisions at the NFL level, not college: no pondering points!

8 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

Is this a colum you write for a website? 

No, just thoughts for the day.  Tough to wait a week for Ravens football!

Only two low "ranking" teams left on the schedule.  The fun begins against the Steelers.

Straight forward power running and mid-to-long range passing attack against a set of weak Pittsburgh DBs could be the right ingredients for a Ravens’ upset victory.  Expect Ravens to make several roster changes to energize their stagnant offense.  The great thing about a Ravens-Steelers matchup is there will be hitting, fumbles, interceptions, hard-nosed running, piercing passing, TDs, field goals, all with intense focus and unreserved velocity of play, that players and fans enjoy most from fierce competition.  The Ravens will bring their "A-game” but two questions remain: Will the Ravens bring “The House” and will they “Play through the Last Second of Sixty Minutes” for the home crowd?  This game is winnable, especially in Baltimore! 

1 minute ago, Rav'n Maniac said:

Questions? Do you know what boxing mitts are and do you realize they are not NFL approved equipment and won't be allowed. Just thought I'd ask.

Of course not boxing gloves, but something like boxing gloves or tape all the fingers together?  Anything that will help prevent mindless holding penalties would aid the offensive line right now.

Run strategy: run the football with back in motion (half count before snap) and while Quarterback is under center.  Running backs hit the holes faster when the QB not in shotgun position six yards deep in the backfield.   Put boxing like mittens on the offensive line so there is NO possible way for them to grab a defensive player - cannot afford mindless penalties the second half of this season.  Put a second return man back with Hester for that one block that he needs to spring him.  Defensive strategy: three man rush with alternating blitzes from DBs and LBs.  Ravens are going to see a lot of passing against their defense.  Ravens are facing a majority of tier-one teams and must have a strategy that is unpredictable and striking.  If you recover the football; sit down, no further action required.  The team strategy for this second half of the season is for the Ravens to out hustle their opponents in all aspects of the game.  Lastly, Coaching strategy: Make Baltimore Better with Better Decisions!