Two Things Learned Vs Falcons

[Blex64]

1. Greg Mattison is really bad.

2. The Falcons are unbeatable at home because their refs will make sure they win every single time.

[MagicianCamille]

Greg Mattison wasn't responsible for zero points in the first half, but yes I was far from impressed with the defense as well. Believe I called them "pathetic" at some point, though that was a bit harsh considering the circumstances with the referees.

[JoeCool#5]

[quote name='MagicianCamille' timestamp='1289538771' post='537686']
[b]Greg Mattison wasn't responsible for zero points in the first half,[/b] but yes I was far from impressed with the defense as well. Believe I called them "pathetic" at some point, though that was a bit harsh considering the circumstances with the referees.
[/quote]

Agree. Greg Mattison was responsible for the 4x 10+ play drives by the Falcons and the lost battle of T.O.P. We couldnt get off the field and the last drive only highlighted the fact.

[MagicianCamille]

[quote name='JoeCool#5' timestamp='1289538995' post='537714']
Agree. Greg Mattison was responsible for the 4x 10+ play drives by the Falcons and the lost battle of T.O.P. We couldnt get off the field and the last drive only highlighted the fact.
[/quote]

That's a fair point but while their offense was able to make the most of their time, ours was not able to do a single thing.

[Ravenslifer]

Mattison looks like he has no clue what to do with this defense. I get that we're facing guys like Brady and Manning and Matt Ryan, and not the Alex Smiths of the the league, but come on? You let New England come back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter, let Buffalo score 34 points on us, and let the Falcons march down the field on every single play of their last drive?

Here's something else I learned a long time ago, and it seems like nobody on the Ravens realizes it. When Flacco takes charge of things and is asked to win, he is lights out. When he turns into a "game manager", it looks like he has no idea what he's doing out there.

[Jamal]

1. I miss Gaither
2. Suggs is a warrior
3. Suggs still needs help on the other side
4. We are in desperate need of an ILB to play alongside Ray-Ray
5. CB's are young. Made some mistakes, but will learn

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Mattison is clueless on blitzing, you must disguise what you want to do, not showing it up front. And yes Ray, I saw you arguing with Mattison, I hope you told him that we all agree he is costing us games while he learns how to be an NFL Coordinator. All he had to do was follow the blueprint Rez left, and tweak it a little, instead, in re-inventing the wheel, we went from Yokahama to wooden!

[Nobi]

1. Don't count the Ravens out ever.

2. Matt Millen and Joe Theisman are the worst commentators on pro football. I swear to god I'm glad I will never have to go another game hearing them opine about Matt Ryan for 4 straight hours.

PS The referees can go eat an unsavory phallic object.

[Shammy]

this thread needs to be more of 10 things learned

1. The Defensive scheme calling whatever you wanna call it etc. is not great at all
2. Both sides in the trenches needs to be tougher
3. Anquan Boldin is the truth
4. Joe Flacco is good when he gets the time
5. since reed has returned it seems the secondary has stepped down
6. Ray Lewis isnt gonna be able to do this forever
7. Suggs needs a compliment with the pass rush
8. The Running game is non exsistent
9. Josh Wilson isnt any better than fabian washington
10. The Defense just isnt that good anymore period

[Npane171]

(1) Saying "Our defense can hold them" during tight situations, with confidence, doesn't seem to be wisdom anymore - for now at least.

(2) Our offense has improved and can come up big when needed but, we can still put up more points and need to do so. If our defense can stop em' we need a high-scoring offense, period.

Honorable mention: Ravens fans take losses real, real bad. We have to be some of the most bitter fans after a loss.

[iPurple]

1. Penalties still an issue. Why Gooden, why?

2. Really, the interference was unnecessary and all the penalties on special teams need to be addressed as well.

[admartian]

Mattison has to go. I mean, usually our defense plays bad against Peyton, Brady, Ben. But we've been getting beat by young, and unknown QBs lately.

Has to go, no doubt about it.

[JO_75]

2 Things I learned...

1) This team never gives up. Look I know alot is going to be made of the refs, Mattison and whatever else but this team fights back unlike other previous Raven teams. We were down and still was able to go down the field and score a TD with 1:00 minute left. Our 3 games we have lost, haven't really been really "big" losses as we were competitive throughout the whole game. That is the one thing I love about this team, we keep fighting until that clock says 0:00.

2) Matt Ryan is the new Golden Boy of the NFL.

[Ed_Reed20]

I learned Ryan is very good QB, White is the best WR in the league right now and the Falcons are a very good team.

I didn't learn anything about the Ravens I didn't already know.

[UMDan]

Luckily I was at a bar with friends so I didn't have to suffer through the commentary but my dad called me and told me it was the worst announcing he's ever heard.

I think a takeaway from this game is that our D needs more work than our O. I've been trying to resist all of this talk of our team shifting from a defense-oriented team to an offense-oriented one, but it's hard for me to continue denying that this team is not the same as they were years ago (for good and for bad).

[#1falconfan]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1289538705' post='537679']
1. Greg Mattison is really bad.

2. The Falcons are unbeatable at home because their refs will make sure they win every single time.
[/quote]
Well to be honest the db initiated the contact well past 5 yards.

[reed20]

Please dont blame the refs, our defense lost this game for us because they are no longer an elite defense thanks to the corners. Nothing to do with refs.

[Skip727]

A few things I learned from this game:

Our defense is getting older and slower. Is that Mattison's fault?

Flacco needs to be turned loose, NOW! Is this Cameron's fault?

I didn't hear anyone on the D side of the ball take responsibility for the loss(I might have missed it) but after a loss, I have heard Flacco step up and say stuff like [b][/b]"I didn't make the plays I should have, or I need to play better than that"[b][/b]. I didn't here ANYONE on the D step up and say, [b][/b]"We lost this game"[b][/b] A real leader accepts the responsibility and criticism after a loss as well as the praise after a win...Where was that leader on defense?

Just saying.

[Defence_Is_Salvation]

Anyone thinking Dean Pees could take over next year? Here's hoping Kindle, Cody and Kruger can cement our front seven into a monster.

[Joe Brown]

I know this will not be the most popular thought but..... IMHO I tink Ray needs to retire and become D/C and run it like Rex did. Why Mattison had to revamp and reinvent the D is beyond me. If it isn't broke don't fix it and our D wasn't broke and only a fool would and did mess with that.

[Ravens549]

Ummm...you don't think the players on our defense had anything to do with that loss?

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='Skip727' timestamp='1289564491' post='538285']
A few things I learned from this game:

[b]Our defense is getting older and slower.[/b] Is that Mattison's fault?

Flacco needs to be turned loose, NOW! Is this Cameron's fault?

I didn't hear anyone on the D side of the ball take responsibility for the loss(I might have missed it) but after a loss, I have heard Flacco step up and say stuff like [b][/b]"I didn't make the plays I should have, or I need to play better than that"[b][/b]. I didn't here ANYONE on the D step up and say, [b][/b]"We lost this game"[b][/b] A real leader accepts the responsibility and criticism after a loss as well as the praise after a win...Where was that leader on defense?

Just saying.
[/quote]

Ravens defense is hardly old, the talent level and proper scheme to make up for the lack of talent has dropped.

[Purple Punishment]

[quote name='Joe Brown' timestamp='1289565200' post='538292']
I know this will not be the most popular thought but..... IMHO I tink Ray needs to retire and become D/C and run it like Rex did. Why Mattison had to revamp and reinvent the D is beyond me. If it isn't broke don't fix it and our D wasn't broke and only a fool would and did mess with that.
[/quote]

I agree, most of our personnel were part of top 3 D's under Rex Ryan, Mattison steps in and all of a sudden we cant get pressure. Well Suggs can, but this pass rush is just horrible

[Purple Punishment]

One thing I learned is that Matt Ryan is running his Offense. Joe Flacco is still managing ours. You can hate it but its the truth

[Marc2k6]

1.) Matt Ryan is pretty good.
2.) Roddy White is pretty good.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' timestamp='1289567061' post='538315']
One thing I learned is that Matt Ryan is running his Offense. Joe Flacco is still managing ours. You can hate it but its the truth
[/quote]
While this is true, it is not Flacco's fault at the end of the day. Matt Ryan has been tought to run his offense that way and Flacco has not. So I blame the coaching staff for that.

[Juviebest]

Flacco also just isn't where he needs to be. He needs to get rid of the ball quicker and progress through his options, it's like he's determined to throw to a certain WR no matter what.

Mattison and Cam both need to go. Rice was killing it for a while then we stopped running.

[Purple Punishment]

Juvie, not true, I saw Flacco scanning all sides of the field last night. The O-Line was not allowing him time to make a play. Not on Flacco. Also, the fact is Matt Ryan is leaps and bounds ahead of Flacco in regards to controlling his offense. Whats scary is when or if ever the leash is taken off of Joe Flacco he will blow defenses out of the water. His numbers and Ryans numbers are alike and Flacco has yet to be turned loose like Ryan has

I agree that we shouldnt have abandoned the run. 3 run plays for 28 yards to start off the game was amazing, then we resorted to throwing. Sometimes Cam looks like a genius and other times I feel I could run a better offense than him

[ATLBirdzEyeView]

The 1 thing I learned is, if it were not for Roddy White, we would have lost this game last night...Period! He almost didn't play last night.

12 catches for 138 yards and 2 TDs is what I call "putting in WORK".

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='ATLBirdzEyeView' timestamp='1289577969' post='538639']
The 1 thing I learned is, if it were not for Roddy White, we would have lost this game last night...Period! He almost didn't play last night.

12 catches for 138 yards and 2 TDs is what I call "putting in WORK".
[/quote]

He did alright