The Hard-hitters Of Week 1

[minford]

Remember our game week 1 against the Bengals? Of course you do. Remember how in spite of the 6 turnovers you relished in the fact that we were bringing them pain? It was one of the hardest hitting games I've seen and I loved it for that. Even the commentators noted it. Where did that anger and passion go? It hasn't shown up on the field since then. Injuries is not the total excuse for the lack of bringing the pain. If I remember correctly, only Pryce & McNair were significantly injured from that game.

Playing with that kind of intensity intimidates the crap out of opponents. Part of the domination of the Ravens D for the past 7 - 8 years has been intimidation & reputation. They could beat the offense before they even took the field. Yeah they have the talent too, but playing a scared opponent is a hell of a lot easier than playing an opponent who just realized the Ravens D is human. I'm getting a bit repetative, but here's an example. Last year we had hits that were candidates for "Jacked up" in every game. I can't remember the last time I've seen a Raven level someone so hard that I say "OOOOOOOOH SNAP!"

[LuvMyRavens]

We miss AD more than Rex Ryan would admit, but I think the biggest problem is fatique. With the exception of yesterday's glimmer, the offense has been dead. Time of possession has been lopsided with the offense going 3 and out on almost every possession. It's hard to play hard and intense when you're on the field for so long. They're still playing great D, holding teams to 3 instead of 6 on lots of possessions, but just look at the last 3 games. Against Pittsburgh, turnovers had them defending a short field for the first 3 possessions. They were practically already in the red zone and we had neither of our starting corners to stop them from scoring. Cincinnati was a very physical, hard-hitting game, but we just couldn't score. We held their high-powered offense to just field goals. On Sunday, I don't even think the Ravens got a first down until close to the 2nd half or maybe in the 2nd half. And if Ray doesn't take the pick to the end zone, this questionable field goal doesn't even matter.

[Raven07]

AD was yes, a big part of our defense last season, but we have the players on this team and on this defense to "step it up" and fill his viod and perform well.....all of our players are play-makers, its just that sometimes, they make mis-takes (which ALL player in the League does at some point or another) and they come back from it and re-bound and play better.

[minford]

Theres no denying AD was a big part of our defense... last year! This thread is about the hard-hitting Ravens of week 1 of this year! Bringing up fatigue is a good point, as is injuries, but that doesn't answer the question completely.

[Raven07]

this is clearly not our year so far...and our performance as showed it...on both sides of the ball and due to the added injuries...it only adds to it all.....this just isnt our year.

[LuvMyRavens]

I don't know. Maybe the other teams have picked up our schemes. We're just not getting pressure on the quarterbacks like we were last year. I don't know our exact numbers, but I would imagine we're down quite a bit in our sacks this year. Plus, with Rolle and C-Mac in and out, teams have been taking advantage of the sidelines or throwing deep. There haven't been lots of throws in the middle of the field for our linebackers to hit with authority.

[minford]

I don't know. Maybe the other teams have picked up our schemes. We're just not getting pressure on the quarterbacks like we were last year. I don't know our exact numbers, but I would imagine we're down quite a bit in our sacks this year. Plus, with Rolle and C-Mac in and out, teams have been taking advantage of the sidelines or throwing deep. There haven't been lots of throws in the middle of the field for our linebackers to hit with authority.

Yeah thats true too I suppose. I'm not accusing our players of playing with less heart or emotion because we all know Ray Ray wont let that happen.

[LuvMyRavens]

Yeah thats true too I suppose. I'm not accusing our players of playing with less heart or emotion because we all know Ray Ray wont let that happen.

Definitely not. I got in an argument with a Squeeler fan about our game. He was talking smack about how Ray was bragging about holding Parker to under 100 yards when they beat us pretty soundly. I asked him what part was untrue? We DID hold Parker to minimum yardage. I applaud Ray for staying up and looking at the positives. It would be easy for all of them to just give up.

[Raven07]

yea i agree, its not for th lack of Effort that we end up on the short end of the stick right now, its just that we havent really had things go "our" way so far this season.

[JonM229]

I do remember when opposing offenses almost seemed to give up in the later parts of the game because they were just getting punished...haven't seen too much of that this year.

[Raven07]

yea i've noticed that too.....we just arent really the same team as we were a year ago. Our Players need to find a way to Get into some kind of a rythym and get into a groove, and so the point where BOTH sides of the football, both offense and defense, Just go out there, and just have fun by going out there and playing the game, the way it was meant to be played

[minford]

yea i've noticed that too.....we just arent really the same team as we were a year ago. Our Players need to find a way to Get into some kind of a rythym and get into a groove, and so the point where BOTH sides of the football, both offense and defense, Just go out there, and just have fun by going out there and playing the game, the way it was meant to be played

Agreed. I've come to believe that the defense isnt punishing opponents because each game the offense/ special teams gives the opposing team such good field position that the defense isnt having as much fun because of the great burden of responsibility put on their shoulders to prevent the score. If the defense had a long field to work with on a consistent basis, maybe we'd see some more brutal hits.

[Raven07]

exactly!......people say "oh the Ravens Defense is Slipping...its letting up touch down after touchdown and point after point " and all that crap But its not like they're not trying to do something, its just that our offense gives them the ball at which they have VERY good field position. and they see that fact, and take advantage of it.