Playoffs - First Up: Patriots

[H8R]

I think Watson is the biggest threat, over the middle we are baby soft unless Ray happens to keep up with a TE....

[PuRock]

Brady over the years has proven that he hits the open receiver, no matter who it is. Before Moss came along, Brady was winning games passing to Troy Brown, Deion Branch and David Givens.

So Wes being out does help. But Brady is the major factor. He'll hit the next man up. Let's not get to excited about Wes being out. Because I wouldn't doubt Edleman, Aiken and Watson light us up.

[charles1712]

[quote name='BohBalmerOsbohs' date='03 January 2010 - 09:57 PM' timestamp='1262573847' post='330358']
Here we go, The Playoffs. A very Familiar place for this team over the years, and also for the Pats. This game should be just like earlier this year, except for one of New England's biggest threats gone, Wes Welker. Still, Pressure is key, and we need to shutdown Randy Moss. The Offense really needs to get on the ball for this one and pound the rock. Score enough on Offense and get the job done enough on Defense and we will move on. Thoughts?
[/quote]
I like the Ravens chances of walking out of New England with a win. As long as the refs let the player play and keep the flags in their pockets . Did anyone see the Jets game last night ? For the Bangles to get beat up like that with their first string playing most of the game is or should be a crime . I like the Jets too this Sunday. Like I said in an other form" That is where the Ravens dominating defence went ( to the Jets with Rex Ryan)!"

[grape snowball]

Our best weapon just may be the weather.

The forecast for Sunday afternoon at Foxborough is clear, cold, and windy. Wind chills near zero. 10-20 mph winds with higher gusts. Let's see if Brady can throw deep to Moss under those conditions.

Our chances improve if the game is limited to short passes and runs.

[McBoller]

I think we can win and i really hope we do bc it may be our biggest hurdle. Getting it through the players' minds that this team can compete and can legitimately win a championship. With the colts essentially coming off a 3 week bye next week, they wont scare me so much. Id love to play the Jets in the AFCCG!!!

[MiselisM]

Apparently the current spread is Pats by 4.

[MiselisM]

Also is Ray or any other LB can keep up with Watson thats a positive to.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='04 January 2010 - 02:00 PM' timestamp='1262631652' post='330860']
The Colts could never beat the Pats either... it's time to get that proverbial monkey off our back too
[/quote]
We're not the Colts. Incidentally, Indy is another team that we generally can't beat...

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='MiselisM' date='04 January 2010 - 04:51 PM' timestamp='1262641918' post='331121']
Also is Ray or any other LB can keep up with Watson thats a positive to.
[/quote]

Ray definitely can't keep up with Watson. Remember [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17hMuExqP0"]this[/url]?

The team's best bet is to put Landry on Watson.

[McBoller]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='04 January 2010 - 05:20 PM' timestamp='1262643616' post='331155']
Ray definitely can't keep up with Watson. Remember [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17hMuExqP0"]this[/url]?

The team's best bet is to put Landry on Watson.
[/quote]
no, i dont remember that, but that is AWESOME>

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='McBoller' date='04 January 2010 - 06:09 PM' timestamp='1262646598' post='331192']
no, i dont remember that, but that is AWESOME>
[/quote]

I remember watching the game and wondering who the hell he was.

[K-Dog]

pass interferance and personal fouls WILL loose this gmae for us.
Keep princess brady on edge the whole game but remember he is the NFL golden child.

Like some one else said, less than 8 penalties and we will be in the game.

I like our chances a lot.

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='K-Dog' date='04 January 2010 - 06:47 PM' timestamp='1262648849' post='331218']
pass interferance and personal fouls WILL loose this gmae for us.
Keep princess brady on edge the whole game but remember he is the NFL golden child.

Like some one else said, less than 8 penalties and we will be in the game.

I like our chances a lot.
[/quote]
i know dungi said less than 10

[darklight1216]

[quote name='cursona pirate' date='04 January 2010 - 06:54 PM' timestamp='1262649256' post='331228']
i know dungi said less than 10
[/quote]
Getting less than ten penalties is a tall order, but with a little bit of luck, we might make it.

[DocMartin]

[quote name='BohBalmerOsbohs' date='03 January 2010 - 09:57 PM' timestamp='1262573847' post='330358']
Here we go, The Playoffs. A very Familiar place for this team over the years, and also for the Pats. This game should be just like earlier this year, except for one of New England's biggest threats gone, Wes Welker. Still, Pressure is key, and we need to shutdown Randy Moss. The Offense really needs to get on the ball for this one and pound the rock. Score enough on Offense and get the job done enough on Defense and we will move on. Thoughts?
[/quote]

That sounds like a plan, my friend. I might add, Flacco throws couple TD's, and defense puts Brady out of business. And REFS WILL MAKE ALL RIGHT CALLS THIS TIME.

[rayven4ever]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='04 January 2010 - 06:20 PM' timestamp='1262643616' post='331155']
Ray definitely can't keep up with Watson. Remember [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_17hMuExqP0"]this[/url]?

The team's best bet is to put Landry on Watson.
[/quote]

I agree. Having Ray play deep in the secondary to cover a TE does not make sense when Ellerbe is quicker and showed better coverage skills and awareness against Oakland. I think having Ray stay in the short middle to cover Faulk coming out of the backfield would utilize him better.

On another note, depending on the wind I think the offense needs to develop an 8-15 yard passing game against the weaker and inexperienced corners on NE. Whether this means bringing in Kelley Washington to run deeper slants and in routes, Heap corner routes and Mason consistently beating his guy to get open on out patterns, Cam need to instill some confidence in Flacco so he shows some passion and doesn't solely depend on Rice. I don't think the offense will throw the ball more than 20-25 times, but Flacco can have 225+ yds against the NE secondary. I am not advocating switching to a passing offense for the game as I expect to see 30+ running plays, but constant screens and checkdowns won't help the running game.

Finally, Flacco and Birk need to read coverages better and adjust the OL accordingly. Flacco has plenty of experience(including the playoffs) that he needs to be confident in calling an audible according to the defense. Too often the offense simply relies on the play Cameron calls even though the defense is anticipating the play.

All in all I think we can get enough pressure on Brady and safety help on Moss will stop the NE offense so we can get a win.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='rayven4ever' date='04 January 2010 - 10:15 PM' timestamp='1262661356' post='331401']
I agree. Having Ray play deep in the secondary to cover a TE does not make sense when Ellerbe is quicker and showed better coverage skills and awareness against Oakland. I think having Ray stay in the short middle to cover Faulk coming out of the backfield would utilize him better.

On another note, depending on the wind I think the offense needs to develop an 8-15 yard passing game against the weaker and inexperienced corners on NE. Whether this means bringing in Kelley Washington to run deeper slants and in routes, Heap corner routes and Mason consistently beating his guy to get open on out patterns, Cam need to instill some confidence in Flacco so he shows some passion and doesn't solely depend on Rice. I don't think the offense will throw the ball more than 20-25 times, but Flacco can have 225+ yds against the NE secondary. I am not advocating switching to a passing offense for the game as I expect to see 30+ running plays, but constant screens and checkdowns won't help the running game.

Finally, Flacco and Birk need to read coverages better and adjust the OL accordingly. Flacco has plenty of experience(including the playoffs) that he needs to be confident in calling an audible according to the defense. Too often the offense simply relies on the play Cameron calls even though the defense is anticipating the play.

All in all I think we can get enough pressure on Brady and safety help on Moss will stop the NE offense so we can get a win.
[/quote]

Well said. Ray shouldn't be dropping more than 10 yards into coverage.

As for NE's corners, they're definitely the weakest part of the D. Bodden, Springs, Wilhite and Butler can be all beaten. It's up to Cam to get EVERYONE involved. The Ravens don't have a playmaker besides Ray Rice but between Mason, Heap, Washington, Clayton and Williams, the passing game shouldn't grind to a halt every time the team faces a good defense.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

We have the team to win, but between Brady, the officiating and our ill-discipline, it will be a rather tall order. All the same, I say we win, 20-17. Rice and McGahee to have good games, which we need to control the clock. Keep the ball out of Brady's hands. And when we get to him, hit him hard and cleanly.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='05 January 2010 - 03:51 AM' timestamp='1262681519' post='331598']
We have the team to win, but between Brady, the officiating and our ill-discipline, it will be a rather tall order. All the same, I say we win, 20-17. Rice and McGahee to have good games, which we need to control the clock. Keep the ball out of Brady's hands. And when we get to him, hit him hard and cleanly.
[/quote]

There is a reason the Pats are unbeaten at home and struggle on the road. Say what you want, the Pats get the officiating edge at home. This should not be so much the case in the playoffs however. The crews are voted in by the coaches and I doubt any crew that seems to give an edge to a team would make that cut. Usually, playoff games are not called as tightly as games during the regular season either.

My concern is that the focus will be too much on the penalties of the last meeting. We let up our pressure because of them and we cannot do that. Yes, watch the location of your tackles but keep playing aggressive defense.

Our last meeting with the Pats we were still trying to figure out a dismal pass defense, ranked #23 against the pass. We have brought that up to #6. Granted, Webb was a big part of that rise, but Foxworth and Carr have stepped up their game as well.

Offensively we had just begun to recognize the potential in Ray Rice in our last meeting. Ravens need to run the ball down their throats, that is a given. I think we need to establish a deep threat with the pass first though. NE will be looking for us to run and I think if we come out throwing we catch them off guard at first and set them back on their heels a bit.

Ravens have the talent to beat this team. We dominated every offensive stat last game except the score. Let's put yet one more of those "the Raven's have never" statements behind us this year. Go Ravens!

[PuRock]

Is it true that the refs at Gillette Field get to have their own jacuzzi & steam room complete with complimentary visits by the cheerleaders?

[PuRock]

1. Pressure Tom Brady
2. Test Patriots Secondary

That's all I keep thinking.

If we don't get sufficient pressure on Brady, he will hit the open man whoever that might be. They could throw out their practice squad rookie and make him seem like a superstar against us come Sunday. Our secondary will not be able to compete when they roll out their spread offense. Which they will be doing all day against us. Front four pressure specifically.

Spread offensive w/ an ineffective blitz = we lose

Joe has to win us this game point blank. Belichick will focus on shutting down Rice and the run game. Test their secondary. This means we have to see some D-Will to stretch the field.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='PuRock' date='05 January 2010 - 10:09 AM' timestamp='1262704175' post='331697']This means we have to see some D-Will to stretch the field.
[/quote]

I agree. Although I think this a game where Clayton can make some plays, Williams needs to get some snaps and targets down-field.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='05 January 2010 - 11:04 AM' timestamp='1262707466' post='331738']
I agree. Although I think this a game where Clayton can make some plays, Williams needs to get some snaps and targets down-field.
[/quote]

I concur... I think Clayton wants redemption. A big game could also secure him a new contract too.

We should go more 4-wide with D-Mase, Clayton, D-Will and K-Wash with Rice standing next to Joe in shotgun. Pick your poison.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='05 January 2010 - 12:10 PM' timestamp='1262711445' post='331789']
I concur... I think Clayton wants redemption. A big game could also secure him a new contract too.

We should go more 4-wide with D-Mase, Clayton, D-Will and K-Wash with Rice standing next to Joe in shotgun. Pick your poison.
[/quote]

I hope Clayton wants redemption. People remember the big drop at the end but Clayton had actually caught three ball earlier in the drive for 30 yards.

I agree about the spread shotgun-formation but it doesn't seem like Cam likes to run four receiver sets much. Why I don't know...

[darklight1216]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='05 January 2010 - 12:10 PM' timestamp='1262711445' post='331789']
I concur... I think Clayton wants redemption. A big game could also secure him a new contract too.

We should go more 4-wide with D-Mase, Clayton, D-Will and K-Wash with Rice standing next to Joe in shotgun. Pick your poison.
[/quote]
Well let's see, how many weeks has it been since Clayton showed up? He could be due for another big game.

We don't do four receiver sets. It will be Mason or Rice and possibly Clayton.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='05 January 2010 - 01:52 PM' timestamp='1262717555' post='331848']
Well let's see, how many weeks has it been since Clayton showed up? He could be due for another big game.

We don't do four receiver sets. It will be Mason or Rice and possibly Clayton.
[/quote]

Right, and the Pats would never expect it which is [i]why[/i] this would be the perfect time to utilize it!

[Ravensqueen]

The Ravens can win this game as long as they kept the penalties down and the refs are fair!!!!

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='Ravensqueen' date='05 January 2010 - 03:02 PM' timestamp='1262721730' post='331906']
The Ravens can win this game as long as they kept the penalties down and the refs are fair!!!!
[/quote]

If we draw Walt Coleman or Ron Winter's crew, we're in trouble.

[Ed_Reed20]

While I'm leery of the penalties, why don't the Ravens try to turn the tables on the Pats? If I were Cam, on second and short, I'd bring out Demetrius and throw a bomb to him deep. His deceptive speed gives DBs trouble and he has a knack for making circus catches.

[Ravens2926]

This game will be close. It will definitely come down to whoever has the ball last. We need to pressure Brady consistently and our secondary needs to step it up. If we can do that we are good to go.