What's Wrong With The Ravens

[DRayRaven]

This probably isn't the best time to start this thread (because I think the Ravens will defeat the 49ers), but I think we all know this team isn't playing up to its potential. Let's face it: they have too much talent to be defeated by the likes of Cleveland, and Arizona shouldn't have even sniffed victory.

Here's what's wrong as I see it:

Defense:

1) Injuries. Rolle and Pryce's absence has killed us. It's bad enough when the D can't bring the house because it can't afford to leave both corners on an island. It's even worse when your best rushing lineman is out of the lineup.

2) Coverage breakdowns. CMac jumped a route last week, and he guessed wrong. He isn't the only guilty party. Reed also has a tendency to guess. Sometimes they guess correctly and make big plays...but if they're wrong, they wind up looking like burnt toast.

Offense:

1) Injuries. It's not McNair's age...it's that groin pull. He isn't planting his feet correctly, he doesn't maneuver as well, and he tends to throw the ball high. It doesn't help when Ogden isn't there to seal off that left side, either.

2) Discipline. Penalties, penalties, penalties. When your profile involves running the ball and moving down the field with the short passing game, you cannot afford false starts and holding calls. It's killer. This is nothing new, but it's still hurting us.

3) Playcalling. Yes, I think Billick tends to give up on the run a little too quickly, even when it's working. McGahee should have run the ball a lot more than 14 times against the Browns, and a 14 point deficit in the first quarter is no reason to abandon your game plan. If anything, it made it more imperative than ever to keep the ball out of Cleveland's hands.

The season isn't over, but our prospects aren't pretty given the upcoming schedule. The Ravens have to get healthy and they have to stop beating themselves if they want to sniff the playoffs, let alone a division championship. Hopefully that will happen before they face the Colts, Patriots, Chargers, and Steelers.

[Slick]

This probably isn't the best time to start this thread (because I think the Ravens will defeat the 49ers), but I think we all know this team isn't playing up to its potential. Let's face it: they have too much talent to be defeated by the likes of Cleveland, and Arizona shouldn't have even sniffed victory.

Here's what's wrong as I see it:

Defense:

1) Injuries. Rolle and Pryce's absence has killed us. It's bad enough when the D can't bring the house because it can't afford to leave both corners on an island. It's even worse when your best rushing lineman is out of the lineup.

2) Coverage breakdowns. CMac jumped a route last week, and he guessed wrong. He isn't the only guilty party. Reed also has a tendency to guess. Sometimes they guess correctly and make big plays...but if they're wrong, they wind up looking like burnt toast.

Offense:

1) Injuries. It's not McNair's age...it's that groin pull. He isn't planting his feet correctly, he doesn't maneuver as well, and he tends to throw the ball high. It doesn't help when Ogden isn't there to seal off that left side, either.

2) Discipline. Penalties, penalties, penalties. When your profile involves running the ball and moving down the field with the short passing game, you cannot afford false starts and holding calls. It's killer. This is nothing new, but it's still hurting us.

3) Playcalling. Yes, I think Billick tends to give up on the run a little too quickly, even when it's working. McGahee should have run the ball a lot more than 14 times against the Browns, and a 14 point deficit in the first quarter is no reason to abandon your game plan. If anything, it made it more imperative than ever to keep the ball out of Cleveland's hands.

The season isn't over, but our prospects aren't pretty given the upcoming schedule. The Ravens have to get healthy and they have to stop beating themselves if they want to sniff the playoffs, let alone a division championship. Hopefully that will happen before they face the Colts, Patriots, Chargers, and Steelers.

Defense:

1) agreed

2) agreed

Offense:

1) agreed

2) definately agreed

3) somewhat agreed, its not all Billick's fault but we could've been more effective in situations such as the Browns game.

and yes, the season is young but we have relatively easy games going into the next few weeks, San Fran being probably the hardest of the 3 to come. St. Louis is having real troubles without Orlando Pace helping their line out, and Buffalo is just a team that won't escape this year's injury crisis. After the bye we get a tough pittsburgh game but then we get cincy and cleveland revenge games here in Baltimore. then we play San Diego but they're suffering with Norv Turner as head couch, and then we get two home games against superbowl contenders, and by that point in the year, the home field advantage really helps not to mention that the Raven's usually play strong throughout the year without slacking off. finishing out the year we take on miami, which should be a cakewalk at this point, and the seattle game should be the hardest of the final 3 since we'lkl be at their stadium. the final game of the season will be against the steelers and i don't think we'll let them come into our house and ruin what could be a great year for us.

realistically, I could see us going 11-5 this season once we really start going. with that we could take the division again and hopefully we'll be at full strength with no injuries heading into the playoffs for what also could be a serious run at the title. This will most definately be one of the more exciting seasons of NFL football to watch though, and im excited for what's to come.

[Tiz]

2) Coverage breakdowns. CMac jumped a route last week, and he guessed wrong. He isn't the only guilty party. Reed also has a tendency to guess. Sometimes they guess correctly and make big plays...but if they're wrong, they wind up looking like burnt toast.

This is the MO of most of the greats they take risks and more often than not they produce. With the lack of a pass rush teams are able to utilize the DBs aggressiveness against them.

[beach08]

My thoughts are lack of continuity.... you have the same team players for so long...and now with multiple players out of the line-up, its killing the continuity. It's like a best friend, you can finish thier sentences just by the look on thier face or body movements. Well the Raven's are the same way R Lewis could look at Ogden and know what his next move was going to be and so on, take that out of the mix and its a guessing game regardless of play called. How many mis-reads have you seen in the last 4 games???? It's like starting all over....sucks...sucks

[Conrad The Crazed]

I agree with everything, and I'll go a bit further:

Discipline starts with the coach, and Billick is notorious for what is known around the NFL as 'Camp Creampuff'. Billick's play-calling is detrimental to the way the Ravens are built. He's dying to resurrect the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, and it just aint gonna happen with the crew he has. What saves his bacon year after year is that Championship Caliber Defense, which after doing so for six-plus seasons is finally showing some wear and tear, made worse by letting Adalius Thomas go. Ryan is keeping the leaks patched, but its become too easy to score with the long ball. Just wait until Reed creeps up in the box, and go deep to Rolle or McAlister. Those guys are a bit overrated, IMHO, and will either draw the pass interference flag or get burned for a long gain or worse. Naturally, when Outlaw Reed is out there roaming the plains, most QB's invite tragic consequences if they push the deep game too much.

IMHO, Billick is too detached as a head coach, and too reliant on Powerpoint and Excel spreadsheets. I'd like to see Neuheisel give the coaching job a shot, bring in some killer WR talent (lets face it, Clayton and Williams aren't smoking anyone deep, and Mason can only be the go-to guy for so long), and lets get a decent franchise QB. McNair is our serviceable interim guy, but Boller is not the answer, and Troy Smith didn't get taken early for a reason (he's not NFL starter material...we all saw him meltdown under an NFL quality pass-rush in that NCAAF title game). Boller might salvage his career if a truly solid O-line could be assembled, however...but past history shows he might be beyond his potential at this point?

Also, as I wondered in another post...where the hell is Mike Anderson? McGahee is doing OK now, but he could sure use the rest of a solid 'one-two-three' punch running attack.

Just some thoughts folks...see ya'll at the St. Louis game!! GO RAVENS!!

[ragnorok99]

The most glaring thing I noticed Sunday was the inability to move past the 20, hence the 3 field goals. Heap coming back will certainly help, but this has been going on for a pretty long time.

Oh, and the 2-yard slant patterns are great for McNair's completion percentage, but they don't really do much else.

[Raven07]

i agree with everything you said

i agree that its not McNair Personally, its the injury, and he's throwing a little differently so try to cope with the injury, last week Billick and McNair both said that last week's game was the healthiest he's played so far, and he seems to be making progress everyday

we also have good news on the injury front......meaning Todd Heap and Samari Rolle have BOTH returned to the practice field in full pads and gear and practiced....wilcox remained out with an apparent foot injury and Ogden continues to make progress with his situation.....Pryce is on his way back to the playing field as well, the cast is off, stitches are out, and he's been in light practice (keep in mind that he still has the rods in his arm)

ALL good news for us on the injury front.......looks like we'll have 2 of our main players back for this week end's game against the Rams....(Rolle and Heap)

[willis mcgahee run u over]

not giving it to mcgahee enough

[Ravens_Pwn12]

yesterday i read on sportcenter were gonna draft sedrick willis.. will that wat they guessed

[austrianravensfan]

sedrick ellis is a great player but i don't think we need em at this point.

Vernon Gholston is my top pick

[Ravens_Pwn12]

sedrick ellis is a great player but i don't think we need em at this point.

Vernon Gholston is my top pick

sorry

[Raven07]

lol either or...whoever we pick...i would love to have either or on this team lol because they both are high performance athletes of whom...give 110 percent on every down, every play (at least from what i saw of them)....yea they'll have some bumps in the road this being their rookie seasons, but everything takes time to develop and practice honing those necessary skills is key so that there will be no mis-communications between the players and coaches.

[Ravens_Pwn12]

lol either or...whoever we pick...i would love to have either or on this team lol because they both are high performance athletes of whom...give 110 percent on every down, every play (at least from what i saw of them)....yea they'll have some bumps in the road this being their rookie seasons, but everything takes time to develop and practice honing those necessary skills is key so that there will be no mis-communications between the players and coaches.

you can only give 100% hahah jk

[smashmouth82]

sedrick ellis is a great player but i don't think we need em at this point.

Vernon Gholston is my top pick

dude is a MONSTER!!!

[Ravens_Pwn12]

dude is a MONSTER!!!

yea but we need a CB more than a DT

[Ravensfan23]

Sed Ellis is regarded as maybe the top DT in this years Draft class, if not #1 then a very close second. I would like to see him in purple and black, however i feel if he falls to us we will be in a prefect position to trade out and pick up a few extra picks. I think getting younger and better at the DB position has higher value over a DT. If we can manage to get a pick in the teens then a good DB will be there. The Bengals select right behind us and smart money is on them get help for that poor defense. With their needs being largest at the DL and LB positions, it think it would be safe to say they would waste no time selecting Ellis if he's there. With everyone knowing the Bengals needed defensive help the Ravens could use that to sell the pick. If u don't trade up to get him now then he won't last. I think the Ravens could drop down 5 or 6 slot and come away with a very good corner and a few extra picks. Of course i will be hoping that D. McFadden will fall to us and Jerry Jones is still willing to give up those 2 #1's to get him. But i guess at this point thats just wishful thinking.

[Guest Birdfan]

Since this has turned into a draft discussion, the thread is being moved to that forum.

[PuppyPuncher]

Sed Ellis is regarded as maybe the top DT in this years Draft class, if not #1 then a very close second. I would like to see him in purple and black, however i feel if he falls to us we will be in a prefect position to trade out and pick up a few extra picks. I think getting younger and better at the DB position has higher value over a DT. If we can manage to get a pick in the teens then a good DB will be there. The Bengals select right behind us and smart money is on them get help for that poor defense. With their needs being largest at the DL and LB positions, it think it would be safe to say they would waste no time selecting Ellis if he's there. With everyone knowing the Bengals needed defensive help the Ravens could use that to sell the pick. If u don't trade up to get him now then he won't last. I think the Ravens could drop down 5 or 6 slot and come away with a very good corner and a few extra picks. Of course i will be hoping that D. McFadden will fall to us and Jerry Jones is still willing to give up those 2 #1's to get him. But i guess at this point thats just wishful thinking.

Actually according to the draft trade chart:

Ravens Trade Pick #8 and 6th round pick for Cowboy's #22 and #28.