Glass Half Full Look At Recent Events

[ravensfan160]

The past week or so haven't gone so well for the Ravens (to put it mildly). I've been trying to look at the bright side and might have found one. Maybe the national media will start jumping off the Ravens bandwagon and our guys can just concentrate on football without the added pressure all the hype will cause. After all, our team hasn't played well with high expections.

[ravensfan2424]

so true. We play better when we are under the radar

[Natural Born Hitters]

I like that. Have we stumbled upon a way to fly under the radar once again? We shall see.

[Bltravens]

Id rather guys healthy than trading our #1 corner, our 3rd pass rush specialist opposite Suggs, and our Hall of Fame safety being hurt and acting weird as hell. Elite athletes have to play up to expectations that's just the way it is, you dont fly under the radar when you win games anyway.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Bltravens' date='31 July 2010 - 12:46 AM' timestamp='1280551617' post='441568']
Id rather guys healthy than trading our #1 corner, our 3rd pass rush specialist opposite Suggs, and our Hall of Fame safety being hurt and acting weird as hell. Elite athletes have to play up to expectations that's just the way it is, you dont fly under the radar when you win games anyway.
[/quote]
I don't get what you're saying in the first half of this one. Trading our corner and our 3rd pass rush specialist? Come again?

[Dan The Man Ravens #1 Fan]

[quote name='1/28/01' date='31 July 2010 - 01:43 AM' timestamp='1280555030' post='441587']
I don't get what you're saying in the first half of this one. Trading our corner and our 3rd pass rush specialist? Come again?
[/quote]

I think he was talking about losing Fox and getting Washington back, and also losing Kindle for whatever amount of time it will be. And lastly, of course he is referring to Ed Reed and his problems as of late.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Dan The Man Ravens #1 Fan' date='31 July 2010 - 02:32 AM' timestamp='1280557968' post='441606']
I think he was talking about losing Fox and getting Washington back, and also losing Kindle for whatever amount of time it will be. And lastly, of course he is referring to Ed Reed and his problems as of late.
[/quote]
People need to say what they mean and mean what they say. Why are the words "trading" and "specialist" being used to refer to Foxworth (hurt, not traded) and Kindle (no where near a specialist for us...just a rookie we were excited about).

I hate the offseason!

[AwakenTheDemon]

Personally, I don't care if the media is high on the Ravens or selling them short. Whether we're "under the radar" or not, the Ravens are going to play the same way. They aren't going to play any harder because they aren't getting the attention that other teams are, or any softer because people are riding high on them.

It does suck that so much has happened to a solid offseason in such a short amount of time. However, I do believe that we'll be able to bounce back. I'll hate not seeing Foxy out there on sundays, I really will, but I still think we have a very solid chance at big things this year.

[CustomUserName]

Atleast this is staying on the defensive side of the ball. So as long as we don't do horribly until we get Washington and Webb back, these aren't huge problems.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='1/28/01' date='31 July 2010 - 01:23 AM' timestamp='1280561033' post='441614']
People need to say what they mean and mean what they say. Why are the words "trading" and "specialist" being used to refer to Foxworth (hurt, not traded) and Kindle (no where near a specialist for us...just a rookie we were excited about).

I hate the offseason!
[/quote]
Ya I meant Id rather have those guys healthy for the season rather than "trading" them being hurt to fly under the radar. And Kindle was going to be a 3rd down pass rush specialist sooner than later for us this season. Most likely getting snaps on day 1 on 3rd and obvious pass.

[ed.s52]

Still worded a little weirdly, but I get what you mean. You would rather have our guys healthy and not fly under the radar than fly under the radar due to the injury bug.

[stixfix69]

We knew going into camp our DB situation was thin, losing Foxworth makes it even thinner, and with Cary Williams getting the hook for the first 2 games, will leave a chance for some players to step up. Oz has to sign some guys to get into camp and compete. I say sign Walker, Springs,and Harper......And side note, i hope Billy "the Kid" Cundiff Boots Graham out of B-more.....We can't wait until january to see if Shank Graham can make a clutch kick......

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='stixfix69' date='31 July 2010 - 02:42 PM' timestamp='1280601763' post='441795']
We knew going into camp our DB situation was thin, losing Foxworth makes it even thinner, and with Cary Williams getting the hook for the first 2 games, will leave a chance for some players to step up. Oz has to sign some guys to get into camp and compete. [b]I say sign Walker, Springs,and Harper.....[/b].And side note, i hope Billy "the Kid" Cundiff Boots Graham out of B-more.....We can't wait until january to see if Shank Graham can make a clutch kick......
[/quote]

I'd be fine with signing Walker and maybe Springs(depending on his knee) but Harper should be left alone. He was terrible for Tennessee last season.

[stixfix69]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='31 July 2010 - 02:47 PM' timestamp='1280602077' post='441800']
I'd be fine with signing Walker and maybe Springs(depending on his knee) but Harper should be left alone. He was terrible for Tennessee last season.
[/quote]
TN was just plain horrible last year.....They will never say it, but they were never the same without Haynesworth........Mattison is going to play zone again, so as long as we can get guys who can tackle, and cover a area we will be okay....Alot of the haters out there who have written us off, forget we finished ranked 3rd, with our 3rd, and 4th string DB's playing basically the last 6 weeks, and playoffs......My concern for the secondary, is making sure we get guys enough reps to be ready to go sept.13th...Our first 6 games are brutal, and we have to be in mid season form off the bat....

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='stixfix69' date='31 July 2010 - 02:53 PM' timestamp='1280602436' post='441807']
TN was just plain horrible last year.....They will never say it, but they were never the same without Haynesworth........[b]Mattison is going to play zone again,[/b] so as long as we can get guys who can tackle, and cover a area we will be okay....Alot of the haters out there who have written us off, forget we finished ranked 3rd, with our 3rd, and 4th string DB's playing basically the last 6 weeks, and playoffs......My concern for the secondary, is making sure we get guys enough reps to be ready to go sept.13th...Our first 6 games are brutal, and we have to be in mid season form off the bat....
[/quote]

Whose reporting that?

[stixfix69]

We don't have the talent to play man, and when we played our best in the secondary is when we went zone.....We have no DB who is a man cover guy.....We will see a heavy dose of zone again......Before Washington got hurt he was getting burned,. along with Foxworth, And his 20 yard cushions......Webb showed the only skill set to handle man....

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='stixfix69' date='31 July 2010 - 03:09 PM' timestamp='1280603389' post='441820']
We don't have the talent to play man, and when we played our best in the secondary is when we went zone.....We have no DB who is a man cover guy.....We will see a heavy dose of zone again......Before Washington got hurt he was getting burned,. along with Foxworth, And his 20 yard cushions......Webb showed the only skill set to handle man....
[/quote]

All good points but to play zone coverage, you need support from the LBs and the projected starters at LB aren't that good in coverage. We'll see what happens but I see Mattison sticking with a man coverage scheme.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='31 July 2010 - 02:23 PM' timestamp='1280604181' post='441830']
All good points but to play zone coverage, you need support from the LBs and the projected starters at LB aren't that good in coverage. We'll see what happens but I see Mattison sticking with a man coverage scheme.
[/quote]

Very true, Ray's about the only linebacker who can drop into coverage well.

[stixfix69]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='31 July 2010 - 03:23 PM' timestamp='1280604181' post='441830']
All good points but to play zone coverage, you need support from the LBs and the projected starters at LB aren't that good in coverage. We'll see what happens but I see Mattison sticking with a man coverage scheme.
[/quote]
I think LBer is one of our strengths, we have some young talented guys, who have motors.....Everything will come down to a better middle pass rush this year as well, a solid rush makes all secondary's look good.....The top QB's last year shredded our secondary's when they were give 6-7 seconds to pass, No DB is going to hold onto coverage that long, hence the zone...With Gregg comming back healthy, along with Suggs, then the double teams won't be on Ngata for every play, and he should be able to get better pressure......IMO...

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='31 July 2010 - 03:25 PM' timestamp='1280604356' post='441831']
Very true, Ray's about the only linebacker who can drop into coverage well.
[/quote]

Yep. And even Ray has been exposed in coverage a few times in recent years.

[quote name='stixfix69' date='31 July 2010 - 03:26 PM' timestamp='1280604367' post='441832']
I think LBer is one of our strengths, we have some young talented guys, who have motors.....Everything will come down to a better middle pass rush this year as well, a solid rush makes all secondary's look good.....The top QB's last year shredded our secondary's when they were give 6-7 seconds to pass, No DB is going to hold onto coverage that long, hence the zone...With Gregg comming back healthy, along with Suggs, then the double teams won't be on Ngata for every play, and he should be able to get better pressure......IMO...
[/quote]

LB is a strength but I don't see it being one in terms of pass coverage. Regardless, I pressure will be key, especially up the middle.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I heard that Kindle was mostly improving in coverage before the incident happened. And I think Ellerbe might be getting better as well, at least it seemed so to me in the second half of last season. But as a whole, the LB corps needs to improve in coverage, especially with our CB situation.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='31 July 2010 - 03:41 PM' timestamp='1280605279' post='441842']
Yep. And even Ray has been exposed in coverage a few times in recent years.



LB is a strength but I don't see it being one in terms of pass coverage. Regardless, I [b]pressure will be key, especially up the middle.[/b][/quote]
I think outside pressure will be more key than inside pressure. I mean we do run a 3-4, which means the DEs will play more inside than in 4-3, and yes the pressure starts with the play of the DL, but with all these mobile QBs in todays league, keeping them in the pocket is key. There aren't a lot of mobile QBs on our particular schedule this year, but outside pressure will force the QB to stay in the pocket because he would have no where to run, and the pocket would collapse on him. When this happens, teams will have to put more focus on stopping Suggs, JJ and our others outside rushers, which would open things up a little for inside rushers and that would make it even easier to rush the QB from all angles and hopefully save our CBs.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' date='31 July 2010 - 04:17 PM' timestamp='1280607457' post='441876']
I think outside pressure will be more key than inside pressure. I mean we do run a 3-4, which means the DEs will play more inside than in 4-3, and yes the pressure starts with the play of the DL, but with all these mobile QBs in todays league, keeping them in the pocket is key. There aren't a lot of mobile QBs on our particular schedule this year, but outside pressure will force the QB to stay in the pocket because he would have no where to run, and the pocket would collapse on him. When this happens, teams will have to put more focus on stopping Suggs, JJ and our others outside rushers, which would open things up a little for inside rushers and that would make it even easier to rush the QB from all angles and hopefully save our CBs.
[/quote]

I agree with a few points you made. However, the reason I say inside pressure will be key is because I can't remember the amount of times I saw QBs step up to avoid the outside rush and complete passes last season. Not that Suggs had a great year rushing the QB but there were times when he and others forced QBs to step up but no one was there to finish the job.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

I'll take in the spotlight over a disgruntled Ed Reed, seriously injured Sergio Kindle and the loss of our top corner any day of the week.

What a frustrating and disappointing start to camp from these perspectives.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='31 July 2010 - 07:09 PM' timestamp='1280617789' post='441920']
I agree with a few points you made. However, the reason I say inside pressure will be key is because I can't remember the amount of times I saw QBs step up to avoid the outside rush and complete passes last season. Not that Suggs had a great year rushing the QB but there were times when he and others forced QBs to step up but no one was there to finish the job.
[/quote]
That's true and it's time for either Gregg, now hopefully fully recovered, or Cody or both to finish the job this year. And maybe others as well.

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='31 July 2010 - 07:55 PM' timestamp='1280620527' post='441960']
[b]I'll take in the spotlight over a disgruntled Ed Reed, seriously injured Sergio Kindle and the loss of our top corner any day of the week. [/b]

What a frustrating and disappointing start to camp from these perspectives.
[/quote]
Exactly lol

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' date='01 August 2010 - 02:03 PM' timestamp='1280624583' post='442020']
Exactly lol
[/quote]
Talent can overcome these things; however losing key players doesn't help in any sense!

[Ravenmore74]

When healthy Reed and Landry hold it down for our secondary...

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='31 July 2010 - 05:55 PM' timestamp='1280620527' post='441960']
I'll take in the spotlight over a disgruntled Ed Reed, seriously injured Sergio Kindle and the loss of our top corner any day of the week.

What a frustrating and disappointing start to camp from these perspectives.
[/quote]
lol this is what I was trying to say for the past 2 days...except apparently my grasp of the English language, even though it is my native language, is not good lol

[Corvus]

I hope all the bandwagoners go ahead and jump off due to the recent events. Let everyone continue to doubt our secondary just like they did last year, we still wound up ranked 3rd in overall defense at the end of the season. Yes, losing Foxworth definitely hurts, and while I have the utmost confidence in Zibby, he is no Ed Reed (yet) but all these guys are entering only the 2nd year of Mattison's system and I see all around improvement, especially with our pass rush. Which, oh yeah only helps our secondary. The less attention on us the better and hopefully these recent events will slow down the hype machine so WE can all focus on OUR team.