The Blame Game

[Skip727]

Just like last week when we beat the Patriots, the better team won. This week we lost to Indy, the better team won. No sense trying to blame anyone for this loss, it was the team that lost, just as it was the team that beat NE.

Are there areas that need to be improved on? Certainly. D-line? WR? FS? DB?

I am sure Ozzie and his team are reading this board just looking for direction and wisdom as how to take this team to the SuperBowl next year(if you don't know sarcasm when you see it, sorry)

Thanks Ravens for a great year. It was a hell of a ride and I am looking forward to taking again next year.

[Michael Heard]

To be honest... the Colts had 3 weeks to plot against whoever they would play in the first round game at home. With that being said, the offense should have created "traffic route plays".... in other words have the recievers come back to each other in hopes of the Colts defenders running into each other or creating a further break on the defenders. On defense, I never seen a play where Ray Lewis attempted to get to Peyton Manning. If you are going to beat the Colts, you need to Peyton to the ground!

[nextgen_RavensFan]

It is games like last night where you really see just how far Flacco has to go to be a elite quarterback. Poor decisions, no pocket presence at all to feel the pressure and move. The defense of the colts are fast but Flacco is a bit slow in decision making. He has a great arm and can make any throw but if he has no presence he will never be a QB in the same group as Manning, Favre etc etc.

Ed Reed is an outstanding player but his need to run the ball back and not protect the ball is a constant every time he touchs it.

Add those 2 issues in with the frustration Ray Lewis feels and the penalties and turn overs will be frequent and game changers. The best corners in the league have trouble against manning and our corners held their own most of the night. It just seemed like the colts wanted it more. Every player was hitting hard and played the full game hungry, we did not.

I am so excited about our future and know we will take that next step but i get frustrated at the players lack of commitment and disregard for the rules.

Anyway heres to our future, things do like bright with Webb and company coming into their own. GO RAVENS !!

[indyfan1]

Congradulations to the Ravens on a great season and a hard fought game last night. Don't be to hard on your team. As the playoffs progress you will see that the Colts are the best team in the NFL this year, so it is no shame to lose to them. The Colts have been under rated this year because they are mature enough to control games after they have a lead instead of trying to run up the score like the Saints.

You have a great team to build on. The primary thing you are missing is that quick, sure handed slot reciever like (Welker or Austin Collee) who runs the routes that get you first downs to keep the chains moving and works well inside the red zone, and a faster tight end like Dallas Clark. Your passing game in 3rd and 5's and inside the red zone looks like it is moving in slow motion. If you improve that part of your offense and retain Ed Read on defense you will have a great chance next year.

[Malkavian Raven]

Aside from the fact that we simply got outplayed; our o-line wasn't giving the receiving core time to get open nor Joe enough time to check them down. Just like with the Pats last week, our run game got shut down at the end of the first half so we had to take to the skies and we became one-dimensional.

My only complaints were the helmet-to-helmet call on Ray and the defensive pass interference that didn't get called on Brackett. Not that either would've changed the outcome of the game. Aside from that, the two-seconds that got added to the clock right before the first half was over and the fact the clock didn't stop when Rice ran out of bounds didn't help our chances either.

Regardless, we got beat by the better team.

~ Malkavian Raven

PS: Many kudos to Pierre Garcon, with all the adversity he faced this past week between the fans criticism, the earthquake in Haiti and losing contact with family members and some yet to be found -- you played with the real heart of a lion out there last night.

[Raven Fan in Florida]

-Flacco's long ball looked off, he missed short the only two shots we took. During the season when he missed these it was usually because he was to strong

-I would of preferred to get beat by Peyton by constantly blitzing. How at the end of the half do we only rush 3. Every time we got pressure on Peyton he was off.

-Stupid penalties, even though I question the Ray Lewis one, the announcers said it was clear the ball was out, looked to me Ray knocked it out.

--We hold Indy to 3 points in the second half and still get outscored 3-0, you will never win.

-I feel we were outcoached--we played not to loose instead of to win. This is usually fine on offense, but against (as the announcers reminded us all game) the best in the league you have to have a more aggressive defensive game plan.

[12th man]

ok to start off great season i loved the season and my ravens but things to talk about this game.
I know joe is 2nd yr but he needs to be able to make plays and make drives, Td . it's not always no one is open or theres no time i get tired of hearing he has no time that's his job, no qb has time to make plays at least the ones that are good. If all qb have time then all the qb would be great it's what you can do when you don't have time, it's the hustle in your heart, talent in you play that you can make plays when the pocket breaks down. if joe can only make plays when he has a good pocket and long time to pick up the correct blitz, or find the right wr open than we have a problem at qb because this never happens, you never get enought time. Let's see what next yr brings but he needs to make it happen, get better reads,get ball out faster, recognize blitzes better, not makes mistakes in forcing the ball this is all on him he needs to step up and we will see. I just hope we haven't rushed his learning to much and forced him to play when he wasn't ready to play last yr. i really don't want another kyle.
a lot of other reasons in this game play calling when it was 3rd down and around 3 and of course we don't run it, cam wants us to throw it which it was way to many of these mistakes on 3rd and short we should have ran it ,do what you do best to get the yards.
playing to slow finally bout 5 mintes left in the 4th qt we went shoot gun and was faster pace or maybe it was no huddle but this is something that should have happened after the half our first position come out shoot gun and fast but we didn't and this has been a problem through out the season cam waits to long to pick up the pace . i could go on forever but i won't thanks for a winning season and for beating New England as good as you did . Till next season.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='12th man' date='17 January 2010 - 02:28 PM' timestamp='1263752890' post='344961']
ok to start off great season i loved the season and my ravens but things to talk about this game.
I know joe is 2nd yr but he needs to be able to make plays and make drives, Td . it's not always no one is open or theres no time i get tired of hearing he has no time that's his job, no qb has time to make plays at least the ones that are good. If all qb have time then all the qb would be great it's what you can do when you don't have time, it's the hustle in your heart, talent in you play that you can make plays when the pocket breaks down. if joe can only make plays when he has a good pocket and long time to pick up the correct blitz, or find the right wr open than we have a problem at qb because this never happens, you never get enought time. Let's see what next yr brings but he needs to make it happen, get better reads,get ball out faster, recognize blitzes better, not makes mistakes in forcing the ball this is all on him he needs to step up and we will see. I just hope we haven't rushed his learning to much and forced him to play when he wasn't ready to play last yr. i really don't want another kyle.
a lot of other reasons in this game play calling when it was 3rd down and around 3 and of course we don't run it, cam wants us to throw it which it was way to many of these mistakes on 3rd and short we should have ran it ,do what you do best to get the yards.
playing to slow finally bout 5 mintes left in the 4th qt we went shoot gun and was faster pace or maybe it was no huddle but this is something that should have happened after the half our first position come out shoot gun and fast but we didn't and this has been a problem through out the season cam waits to long to pick up the pace . i could go on forever but i won't thanks for a winning season and for beating New England as good as you did . Till next season.
[/quote]


It is not all on the QB. Football is a team sport. If you can't develop timing and trust in your receivers, it becomes a different job. Why is it that when Flacco has a bad game in his SECOND YEAR, people start criticizing him like he's supposed to be Brett Favre? I didn't see Kurt Warner dominating the Saints, even with his great wide receivers, and the Saints supposedly didn't have that great a defense (just like the Colts). Sometimes the other team is just better, not to mention healthier.

[reediddy]

Our offense was just terrible. How is it that our O line pushes around the likes of Wilfork and Warren, yet we can't do anything against whoever the hell their DTs are? I was also trying to muster up as much good words for the receivers as i could this entire season, but the fact is they are really just awful. Mason's done. Williams needs more reps otherwise he's gonna keep droppin stuff come game time. Our entire defense needs changes at every level. DL is gettin old, need an eventual replacement for Ray Lewis, and need Zbikowski/Nakamura to step up if Ed Reed leaves. Also a CB definitely needs to be addressed. So many things.

[Bltravens]

Does anyone else wonder what Flacco was saying to Cam there in the 3rd quarter? It was interesting and almost pleasing to see Flacco like that, like he'd had enough of the garbage play calling or something.

[FlaccoFlicker]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='17 January 2010 - 02:29 PM' timestamp='1263756574' post='345055']
Does anyone else wonder what Flacco was saying to Cam there in the 3rd quarter? It was interesting and almost pleasing to see Flacco like that, like he'd had enough of the garbage play calling or something.
[/quote]
check out the viking/comboy game thread in other teams section someone said what was said over there

[domingus]

If I were a Ravens fan, I'd put the blame on the lack of pass rush. I can only recall a couple instances off the top of my head where Suggs got in Manning's face and the rest of the Ravens players didn't exactly do their part in that department either. If you don't get a pass rush on Peyton Manning, you aren't beating the Colts. For the most part, history has shown that.

Other than that, I think Baltimore's play-calling was predictable and by the time they changed things up, they were down 14 points. Gaither/Oher did as well on Freeney/Mathis as anybody but the interior line of the Colts stepped up for once. Daniel Muir had arguably his best game of the season and it showed.

The Ravens' offense is built well for long-term success. The QB is there, the RB is there and the offensive line is absolutely there. Upgrade at receiver and tight end through free agency and/or the draft and Baltimore's offense will be very difficult to stop for years to come. Keep your heads up. Your team's not as bad as some of you seem to think they are.

[TSizzle00]

Colts didn't drop key passes and the Colts didn't really turn the ball over and when they did the Ravens gave the ball right back with mental errors. We didn't deserve to win with those mistakes.

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='domingus' date='17 January 2010 - 03:59 PM' timestamp='1263761950' post='345167']
If I were a Ravens fan, I'd put the blame on the lack of pass rush. I can only recall a couple instances off the top of my head where Suggs got in Manning's face and the rest of the Ravens players didn't exactly do their part in that department either. If you don't get a pass rush on Peyton Manning, you aren't beating the Colts. For the most part, history has shown that.

Other than that, I think Baltimore's play-calling was predictable and by the time they changed things up, they were down 14 points. Gaither/Oher did as well on Freeney/Mathis as anybody but the interior line of the Colts stepped up for once. Daniel Muir had arguably his best game of the season and it showed.

The Ravens' offense is built well for long-term success. The QB is there, the RB is there and the offensive line is absolutely there. Upgrade at receiver and tight end through free agency and/or the draft and Baltimore's offense will be very difficult to stop for years to come. Keep your heads up. Your team's not as bad as some of you seem to think they are.
[/quote]
Dont blame the Ravens defense. They stuffed the run and held Manning to short passes. Ravens offense couldn't get a first down and it put a tired defense back on the field. Ravens held the Colts high powered offense to 20 points.

[H8R]

[quote name='domingus' date='17 January 2010 - 03:59 PM' timestamp='1263761950' post='345167']
If I were a Ravens fan, I'd put the blame on the lack of pass rush. I can only recall a couple instances off the top of my head where Suggs got in Manning's face and the rest of the Ravens players didn't exactly do their part in that department either. If you don't get a pass rush on Peyton Manning, you aren't beating the Colts. For the most part, history has shown that.

Other than that, I think Baltimore's play-calling was predictable and by the time they changed things up, they were down 14 points. Gaither/Oher did as well on Freeney/Mathis as anybody but the interior line of the Colts stepped up for once. Daniel Muir had arguably his best game of the season and it showed.

The Ravens' offense is built well for long-term success. The QB is there, the RB is there and the offensive line is absolutely there. Upgrade at receiver and tight end through free agency and/or the draft and Baltimore's offense will be very difficult to stop for years to come. Keep your heads up. Your team's not as bad as some of you seem to think they are.
[/quote]

This actually makes sense, thanks.

[Npane171]

Firstly, Cam Cameron needs to go. This guy has called sophmoric plays all year. He clearly has doubted Joe Flacco and his passing game (perhaps Harbough is in on it too. I don't know). It seems possible that, if Cameron doubts Flacco, he might doubt him self some as a young QB. In fact, watching him play (and watching his expressions during games, i.e. head hanging low, sulking face, general disappointment) implies that Flacco has lost some confidence in him self. Not good for a young QB. Futher, how many times are we going to throw a short dump pass to Ray Rice? You've got to catch the defense off-gaurd. It's simply part of the strategy of football (and other games with similar scenarios, for example chess, to catch the opponent off gaurd and think ahead of him. THAT IS HOW YOU WIN THE GAME, folks!). Simple run/pass plays just don't cut it for this team. Most teams this year have caught on to this and put a stop to it early (which is probably part of the reason the games have usually been pretty close this year) and, so, we can only put so many points in game! Secondly, I'm so tired of hearing that we need new WR's. Give me a break. These men aren't punks off the street who can catch a ball hear and there. There are professional atheletes who have been evaluated by experts to possess great qualities at their positions. Besides, how many times have we really given some of our WR's chances this year? Not many!! Based on so little passes this year I hardly think we have sufficent reason to count ALL these WR's as washed-up or below caliber players. Again, Cameron's fault to give it a shot. Maybe because he distrust Flacco. Maybe because he distrusts the WR's (or maybe both). Besides, what good is there in having great wide-outs if the QB doubts him self and/or can't seem to get the ball to them? Whatever the reason the plays were to elementary this year! We need someone who can design plays; someone who has innovative ideas! This guys just doesn't (and this season has shown it). He has made a lot of our players look bad and over worked some (Ray Rice). This kid is phenomenal but too much time running and catching the ball means a higher chance of injury (which is a risk I wouldn't take with such a great and, young, athelete). This only testifies to more of his ignorance, I think. So we should get rid of this dude and bring in someone new.


However, I will note some positive aspects about our team. Our secondary really stepped it up later in the year and I am proud of them. I think with the training camp and some hard work we could see someting shine out this secondary next season. However, with no offense to complement it I'd say we are in for a nother disappointing season.

[domingus]

[quote name='TSizzle00' date='17 January 2010 - 04:03 PM' timestamp='1263762235' post='345174']
Dont blame the Ravens defense. They stuffed the run and held Manning to short passes. Ravens offense couldn't get a first down and it put a tired defense back on the field. Ravens held the Colts high powered offense to 20 points.
[/quote]


Stuffed the run? When you play against a team like the Colts that run the ball (seemingly) purely to keep the defense honest, is that really something to brag about?

They kept Manning to short passes, yes. But at the same time, he still completed those said passes repeatedly. Had the Ravens had anything resembling a decent pass rush, it might have been a different story.

The thing is, because the Ravens only scored 3 points, I can see why your blame goes directly to the offense. But really, the Ravens defense did not do it many favors in this one. Peyton Manning rarely saw any serious pressure. You leave a guy like Manning in the pocket and he is bound to hit an open receiver eventually.

Ravens fans are calling for a wide receiver in the draft (and rightfully so), but I must say...you need another pass rusher too.

[bmore_07]

We need a new QB - FLACCO IS BELOW AVERAGE AT BEST. Stop being in denial.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='bmore_07' date='19 January 2010 - 02:22 PM' timestamp='1263928947' post='346926']
We need a new QB - FLACCO IS BELOW AVERAGE AT BEST. Stop being in denial.
[/quote]

You expressed your ignorant views on another topic. Do you want to be exposed as an uninformed person(because I can't call you a fan) again?

[ROCNRAVEN]

[quote name='bmore_07' date='19 January 2010 - 02:22 PM' timestamp='1263928947' post='346926']
We need a new QB - FLACCO IS BELOW AVERAGE AT BEST. Stop being in denial.
[/quote]

At 25 points a game this year and over 3500 yards passing, its not gonna happen, he is here to stay.... This is the best offence we had herefor some time now, unless you want Boller back? ( Thought not).. Rate him after he gets some more weapons to work with. I had a friend compare Flacco to the like of Rogers/Manning (Peyton)/Breez/Rivers/Favre, etc. Now if you look at all the top QBs in the league, they have "weapons" and not just Mason and Rice (who accounted for almost half of his years this year alone) to compliment there games... I do think that Flacco needs to make better decisions and be more aggressive, hopefully with more "weapons" he will.......